Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney announced the funds at the Bendigo campus on Tuesday afternoon.

The funding comes from the Stronger TAFE Fund, which is part of the Skills First program and will help students further develop the skills needed for jobs in their chosen industry.

Ms Tierney said funds from Stronger TAFE Fund would specifically help health students.

“(For specific training), first and foremost is all the health and allied health training associated with the new Bendigo Hospital,” she said.

“We are also encouraged by the news that there will be training here for the preparation for the NDIS which will be rolled out on May 1.”

Ms Tierney said the skills learned by TAFE students would connect the TAFE and the community.

“It means there is provisions for a greater connection between TAFE and industry, where they can put proposals together that reflect the needs of the skill demands in Bendigo,” she said.

“That will be turned into training packages that can be delivered.”

Bendigo TAFE will also receive $1.7 million for a business plan to revitilise the campus.

The funding for the revitilisation of the campus will come from Minister Tierney’s portfolio.

Bendigo Kangan Institute chief executive Trevor Schwenke said it was a fantastic announcement.

“We are looking to a bright future. The announcement around the revitilisation is tremendous,” he said.

“It is a chance for us to make sure what we do is relevant to today's needs. A lot of the money will go into infrastructure, and developing and planning for the needs of community. 

“We don’t want to build something that is not relevant.”

Victoria’s 12 TAFEs and four dual-sector universities will remain individual institutions, but the new brand gives them a strong collective voice as the centre of the government-funded training system.

Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards said she was proud to see Bendigo’s Kangan Institute benefit from the funds.

“It is such an exciting announcement for Bendigo TAFE. They suffered terrible losses under previous government and lost students across board,” she said.

“Regional students needed us to revitilise this campus. It’s not just about students from Bendigo. Studnents from right across the region attend this campus. 

“Not only can we revitalise the campus but also a central part of Bendigo.”