Technical Education Centres (TEC) are purpose built centres for the delivery of practical secondary school and vocational education programs on a TAFE campus in the state of Victoria, Australia. They aim to attract young people 16–19 years of age to provide trade skills training while they complete a secondary school certificate. Each TEC is administered by the TAFE Institute it is a part of.[1]
The Centres offer courses in the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) at Junior, Intermediate and Senior levels with trade streams and various pre-apprenticeship and pre-vocational courses in trade skills such as bricklaying, cabinet making, carpentry, painting, plumbing and shop fitting.[1]
TECs are located at Berwick and Heidelberg in suburban Melbourne, and Ballarat and Wangaratta in regional Victoria.
- Ballarat TEC was established as part of the University of Ballarat, at the SMB campus, Lydiard Street South.[2]
- Berwick TEC was established at Chisholm Institute of TAFE, at the Berwick campus. Centre completed in 2009.[3] A new trade careers centre worth $26 million associated with the TEC was announced in the 2011 State Budget in May.[4]
- Wangaratta TEC was established at Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE, at the Wangaratta campus in Docker Street. Initial enrolments of 170 students exceeded expectations. Centre opened in 2007.[5]
- Heidelberg TEC was established at Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT), at the Heidelberg campus. The $8million Heidelberg Technical Education Centre was opened in May 2010.[6]
The Vocational College at Holmesglen Institute of TAFE, while not classified as a TEC, offers a similar range of opportunities.[1]