03 Oct 2018 Mansfield Courier, Mansfield VIC (General News) Mansfield success drives regional boost THE State Government announced last week a skills development project put forward as a priority for the North East. In Benalla, Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria) joined Labor candidate for Euroa, Fionna Deppeler-Morton, to announce a $1.45 million grant to Regional Skills Fund for the Ovens Murray Workforce Development project. The project involves embedding industry-based learning into secondary schools to develop young peoples interest and skills in agriculture, horticulture and the health and social services sectors. North East Local Learning and Employment Network, and North East Tracks Local Learning and Employment Network have developed the project in consultation with industry sectors that have identified a lack ofjob-ready applicants. The $2.96 million project will expand on a successful pilot delivered in Mansfield that led to an increase in the number of students pursuing careers in industry sectors they had been exposed to through the program in their school. This is a great project to be launching at my former school which develops the skills young people need to meet the local industry opportunities, Ms Symes said. It will lead to more students seeking work in the sectors that need employees, and that will help keep the region strong and mean that local kids who dont want to move away from home have more employment options. Skills and training are vital for our local communities and economies, and a skilled workforce is whats needed to sup- port jobs and keep our country communities strong. Ms Deppeler-Morton said the project helps to address one of the Ovens Murray Regional Partnerships education and skills priorities to improve access to lifelong learning and create innovative learning pathways that support skills development. We know how important creating pathways for employment are for country students and this project is a fantastic opportunity for employers, schools, young people and their families across the Euroa electorate, she said. Under the project, 26 schools (including Mansfield Secondary College) will add new segments to the curriculum that connect students to local employers and training providers with the aim of creatingjob ready employees for industry.