Photo: Lucy Di Paolo

Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert today announced the finalists for the awards, which recognise the contribution to training made by Victoria’s more than 300 Learn Local organisations offering pre-accredited and accredited training.

Anita Hohenhaus who studied at Paynesville Neighbourhood House, Matthew Agostinelli, a student at Diamond Valley Learning Centre, and Dandenong Neighbourhood House’s Naryphol Thach are in the running for the Rowena Allen Award, which recognises excellence in pre-accredited learning.

Other finalists include Learn Local teachers Josie Rose of CAE/Gippsland East Learn Local Alliance, Sharon Smart from Vermont South Community House and Marj Sjostrom from Keysborough Learning Centre.

In total, there is $50,000 to be won across the five prize categories with the winners to be announced at this year’s Learn Local Awards to be held on Thursday 8 September.

The Andrews Labor Government funds Learn Locals through the Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board.

This Government is allowing more Victorians to study in the community and in 2016 has boosted funding to pre-accredited training by $2 million.

Learn Locals have also been major beneficiaries of the Government’s $20 million Reconnect Program which provides wrap around support to help Victoria’s most disadvantaged learners into training.