Major boost for Indigenous education in Victoria

Indigenous university students in Victoria now have access to better teaching facilities and equipment thanks to a major refurbishment at Deakin University in Geelong.

Minister for Employment Participation Kate Ellis joined Member for Corangamite Darren Cheeseman to officially open the new-look Institute of Koorie Education, partly funded by $1 million in Australian Government funding.

Ms Ellis said the Institute was one of the largest and most successful providers of university-level education to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in Victoria.

“I’m pleased our Government has been able to support this significant upgrade to the Institute of Koorie Education, which has been delivering university-level education to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students for more than 20 years,” Ms Ellis said.

“The final project includes new teaching and administrative spaces with modern audio visual facilities and a new performance space - this will ultimately lead to more employment opportunities for graduates.”

Member for Corangamite Darren Cheeseman said the upgraded facility was great news for local Indigenous students and would enhance their learning opportunities.


“The Institute already does great work, using a model that allows students to do their studies without compromising family and community responsibilities,” Mr Cheeseman said. 

“The Institute has come a long way from its early days when it was one portable classroom and one discipline, to now offering programs from Arts and Education and Business and Law to Health, Science and Technology.”

Since 2008, the Government has committed over $5 billion for infrastructure projects across the higher education, research and vocational education and training sectors.