Bendigo TAFE has been recognised amongst Victoria’s best, with the TAFE announced as one of four finalists for the Victorian COVIDSafe Business Awards’ Community Award.
The Victorian COVIDSafe Business Awards recognises industry leaders that have demonstrated exemplary responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, with finalists for the Community Award chosen for implementing and encouraging excellent COVIDSafe practices for their customers and the community.
Bendigo Kangan Institute’s Chief Executive Officer Sally Curtain said the wellbeing of students and staff was a priority in its COVID response.
Bendigo TAFE’s leadership team
“We’re immensely proud to make a difference to our community through COVIDSafe measures, and we’re honoured to be recognised alongside other commendable finalists at the Victorian COVIDSafe Business Awards,” said Ms Curtain.
“As an essential service with a critical role to play in the skills required for post-pandemic recovery, it was important for our TAFEs to respond to the pandemic with agility and leadership.
“The wellbeing of our people and students is at the top of our priorities and guides our overall COVID response, from direct support to students and staff right through to wider engagement initiatives.”
Initiatives at Bendigo TAFE included expanding support and counselling services to help staff and students navigate the impacts of the pandemic and shift to remote learning. This included supplying students with internet dongles, laptops and practical learning equipment.
Outreach campaigns were also implemented to provide additional advice and support to students most impacted by the pandemic, including students on placement and students who had contracted COVID-19.
As COVID vaccines became available, wider community engagement measures were adopted to support the Victorian Government’s public health recommendations.
“Our community was concerned about the impacts of COVID, and many of our staff and students were personally affected COVID-19. We saw the opportunity for Bendigo TAFE to embrace a leadership role working with our partners to support our community,” said Ms Curtain.
Measures included adapting Bendigo TAFE’s marketing campaign from ‘Heroes’ to ‘Heroes Get Vaxxed’ across social media, websites and campus signage, hosting vaccination Q&A information sessions in collaboration with community partners and promoting local COVID-related community events to staff and students.
Across campuses, COVIDSafe campus signage are on display and offered through multiple languages to include culturally and linguistically diverse students.
Ms Curtain said strong support from students, staff and community partners bolstered the overall positive outcomes of COVIDSafe measures at Bendigo TAFE.
“We’re grateful for strong support from community partners like Bendigo Community Health Service who have worked with us on these initiatives.”
“I’m also incredibly proud of our staff at Bendigo TAFE who always put our students at the centre – their agility and innovative measures have enabled our students to continue thriving in their studies during the pandemic.
“Many of our staff and students are also helping to raise awareness and promote COVIDSafe practices, often creatively through channels like video.
“Encouraging a community response to the pandemic has been a key factor in enabling us to continue building awareness of COVIDSafe practices so we can return to a COVID normal work and study environment.”
The Victorian COVIDSafe Business Awards are presented by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in partnership with the Victorian Government Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions. Winners will be announced early this year.
