Gordon Institute of TAFE

Located on Australia's vibrant south coast, The Gordon Institute of TAFE is a technical and further education institute which offers top quality education across a wide range of employment-oriented programs.

The Gordon was established 135 years ago. Today, it provides training and education to more than 13,500 students each year in the wider Geelong area, located around 65 km southwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria.

With a dedicated residence at the East Geelong campus, students at The Gordon benefit from an excellent combination of lifestyle, convenience, and affordability.

The institution focuses on hands-on practical training, teaching students versatile skills in a supportive and inclusive learning environment. Students are able to gain higher education qualifications at many levels, from professional certificates to diplomas and advanced diplomas. Work placements and industry experience is a key aspect of the course structure, giving students the opportunity to boost their resume and begin to build a professional profile before graduating.

Many graduates go on to secure competitive job roles in local and regional businesses, while others move on to further study. The Gordon's diplomas and advanced diplomas even give students credits towards undergraduate degrees at other universities.

Geelong is an ideal place to live and study, with a strong feeling of community and plenty of things for students to do. It is well connected to Melbourne by public transport services and to the Great Ocean Road, where adventurous students can discover the natural wonders of Australia's mountains, national parks, wineries and sandy beaches.

Students at The Gordon benefit from a wide array of vocational courses, giving them superb training to begin a career in a number of in-demand industries.

There are courses offered at diploma and advanced diploma level, many of which carry professional accreditation in their respective field.

Courses are offered to international students in the following subject departments:

• Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural)
• Diploma of Building and Construction
• Certificate II in Commercial Cookery
• Certificate IV in Kitchen Management
• Diploma of Hospitality Management
• Certificate III and Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care
• Certificate III in Individual Support
• Certificate IV and Diploma in Laboratory Techniques
• Diploma of Beauty Therapy
• Diploma of Nursing

The Gordon Institute of TAFE offers a wide range of courses, which span many different subject areas and are available at several different levels of academic study.

As such, the entry criteria that students must meet to be eligible for enrolment will vary on a course-by-course basis.

In general, the academic entry requirements are as follows:

• Certificate III course – satisfactory completion of Year 10 or equivalent
• Certificate IV course - satisfactory completion of Year 11 or equivalent
• Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas and Associate Degree courses - satisfactory completion of Year 12 or equivalent

Prospective applicants are encouraged to check the entry criteria for the course they are interested in online, as well as familiarise themselves with any important dates or deadlines for submission.

There is a minimum standard of English language proficiency which all international students must demonstrate before enrolling on a course. Full details of this can also be found on the institution website.

Each of The Gordon's campuses feature superb academic and recreational facilities and serve as a self-contained learning environment, with all the resources students need to excel at their studies.

There are state-of-the-art libraries on all campuses, with thousands of books, journals, and digital resources available for students to use for their coursework, complemented by welcoming spaces to study, eat and relax, computers with course-related software, and printing facilities.

Each campus includes a variety of inclusive spaces, such as quiet rooms where students can relax and recharge. There are non-denominational prayer rooms for all students and beliefs, and also dedicated queer spaces with books, resources, and a welcoming atmosphere.

Each campus is well equipped with coffee shops and kitchen facilities, and there are bookshops on site for any extra textbooks or stationary materials.

The Gordon understands that it can be tricky to balance academic study with travel, work and other life commitments. The institution is dedicated to providing a superb level of student services to ensure that its entire learning community has the support and confidence needed to achieve their fullest potential.

There are a number of services available either on-campus or online, including:

• Orientation Program
• Aboriginal Education Support
• Accommodation and airport pick up arrangements
• Advice about Overseas Student Health Cover
• Apprenticeship support
• Counselling and mental wellbeing
• Disability Inclusion Support
• IT support
• Library and Learner support
• Safety and Security
• Scholarships and financial assistance
• Skills and Jobs

There is also a dedicated international student support department, which offers assistance in a diverse range of areas, from visa requirements to student rights and responsibilities, general health and wellbeing, course fees and charges.

Completing one of The Gordon's high quality courses gives much more than a qualification. It offers a well-rounded education, with a variety of transferable and specialised skills that make its graduates stand out from the crowd when it comes to graduate employment.

Their impressive vocational portfolio of courses is designed in collaboration with key industry leaders, ensuring that students receive up-to-date training in a range of professions where there is enough demand to yield excellent career prospects.

Gordon graduates achieve better employment outcomes than the state and national average, and their student satisfaction rating is also much higher.

The institution offers free career counselling and advice, where students can get help writing a CV, preparing for interviews, and starting to build a professional profile before graduating from their course.

The Gordon is widely respected for providing high quality hands-on training, which produces well rounded employment-ready graduates.

It has a strong focus on practical training in a safe and inclusive learning environment. The average class size is just 12 students, which means that each individual gets more one-to-one contact time with their tutors, and a more personalised learning experience with more opportunities for structured feedback.

Students will also get to know their classmates and peers more thoroughly due to smaller classes and programmes, which include group projects where students can learn collaboratively. There are work placements and practical training in every programme, organised through the school itself, which help boost employment potential after completing the course. Gordon graduates have a higher graduate employment rate than the state and national average. For those wishing to move on to further academic study, many of the school's diplomas and advanced diplomas offer pathways to a number of universities in the state of Victoria and beyond.