These are exciting times for education in Circular Head. We have a number of top class educational facilities including an Agricultural College, established to capitalise on the rapid growth anticipated in the local dairy industry. Our Council also administers and funds a special committee dedicated to pursuing and promoting the growing education and training opportunities that exist within our municipal area.
The Circular Head Education and Training Consultative Committee (CHETCC) partnership was formed in 1999 as a direct result of the State and Local Government Partnership Agreements (LGPA) program, and was established to address a perceived problem in the Circular Head municipal area, namely poor post year 10 retention rates and an identified skills shortage. In December 2005 Council resolved to endorse the CHETCC as a special Committee of Council.
The Committee has achieved some great successes, in particular the proven capacity of the partnerships to attract sizeable funding to Circular Head for the purposes of encouraging further education and training. Projects funded include the establishment of a Skills Centre as part of the 2006 redevelopment of the Smithton TAFE campus, and the Community of Learners and Learning Leading programs.
More recently CHETCC has addressed the issue of Post Year 10 education in Circular Head and has played a role in the establishment of the Circular Head Trade Training Centre (TTC) The TTC, although comprised of two separate organisations, works to promote a single united face to the community and is yet another example of partnership working.
Circular Head Council has demonstrated its commitment to the ongoing work of CHETCC through its annual budget allocations. We doubled the Council contribution in the 2013/2014 budget to enable the group to progress its identified actions from its Operational Plan.
In 2013 Council funded the first phase of the literacy project by allocating funding to engage consultants to undertake an audit of literacy and education stakeholders and service providers in Circular Head. Further funding was secured by CHETCC from Skills Tasmania 26TEN funding which has enabled the development of the Community Literacy Plan.
Circular Head Council has also ‘signed on’ as 26TEN Network member. At the time of joining it was one of only two Councils to do so, the other being Burnie City Council. This Network brings together members from business, Community and Government and is led by the 26TEN Coalition of Interest. The 26TEN Coalition has been very supportive of the work of CHETCC.
