Monash University > News and Events > Monash Memo

Boon for Gippsland students

19 October 2005

Young people in the Latrobe Valley often find it difficult to achieve their goals, a situation Associate Professor Harry Ballis is determined to change through his involvement with the Gippsland Education Precinct.

Associate Professor Ballis, head of Humanities and Arts at the Gippsland campus, has been part of the precinct project since it began more than a decade ago and last month took up the role of executive director.

The precinct brings together Monash University, GippsTAFE, Gippsland Group Training, and the senior campus of Kurnai College.

Associate Professor Ballis said the precinct aimed to address problems facing young people in Gippsland, including low educational and employment statistics, high youth disengagement and low transition from schools to tertiary education, training and employment.

In his new role, Associate Professor Ballis will bring the partners together under a new business-type structure.

"I'm very confident that the project will prove effective, enrich the partners and be a major strength for Gippsland," he said.

"There's a significant demand in the area for a whole range of skills and professionals, and I'm optimistic the precinct will attract students to the region and retain them. The intention is also for the precinct to attract international students."

Students from Gippsland Group Training and GippsTAFE are already on the university's Gippsland campus, while senior secondary students from Kurnai College will be making the transition to the new facilities later this year.