Scoping Woden Town Centre sites for new CIT campus


Released 06/06/2019 - Joint media release

The ACT Government is scoping a major investment in the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), which includes an opportunity to relocate CIT from Reid to the Woden Town Centre to create a new, modern, purpose-built campus and be a major anchor for the revitalisation of Woden.

Minister for Vocational Education and Skills Meegan Fitzharris said the ACT Government will work closely with CIT to commission an independent assessment of sites in Woden that could accommodate a new CIT campus.

“The ACT Government is planning now for the future of vocational education and skills in Canberra,” Minister Fitzharris said.

“CIT is the premier provider in the Canberra region; delivering world class vocational education and training to more than 20,000 students every year. As part of its modernisation strategy, we want to ensure CIT facilities continue to be a modern, innovative and provide the best learning environment.

“We are investigating the best potential location for a new purpose-built facility, to ensure CIT can keep delivering flexible, digitally progressive courses that develop the skills we need for the future of the Canberra economy.

“Positioning CIT with a major presence in the heart of Woden has the potential to enhance the Town Centre and create an energy around a new campus that will open up a range of opportunities for CIT staff and students, local businesses, industry and the broader community,” said Minister Fitzharris.

Minister for Community Services and Facilities Chris Steel said, “The ACT Government is making transformational investments in Woden in this year’s Budget.

“A revitalised town centre is being supported by the ongoing investment in light rail, funding to redevelop the Woden Bus Interchange, planning and design for a new Woden Community Centre, as well as the ongoing investments in the Canberra Hospital, the new Woden bus depot and the popular Woden Experiment,” said Mr Steel.

A new CIT facility has the potential to be an anchor investment in Woden and connect and support CIT’s existing specialist centres in Fyshwick, Bruce, Gungahlin and Tuggeranong. We are taking the time to carefully consider the best possible location, building on work funded in last year’s Budget.

The ACT Government will work closely and collaboratively with CIT to understand this opportunity and seek independent advice on site options, to ensure the best decision is made for our growing city.

This advice will inform whether a new site in Woden could replace the location in Reid, with CIT continuing to operate at its four other existing campuses across Canberra.

Quotes attributable to Craig Sloan, Chair of the CIT Governing Board:

“CIT is key to the ACT Government’s push to drive the diversification of the ACT economy. At the core of the ACT’s economic strength is CIT’s vocational training in building the skilled workforce of Canberra and the region.

“CIT is transforming the way we are meeting the needs and expectations of modern learners, industry, employers, the ACT community and government through its Strategic Compass 2020. Campus renewal is a key to the evolution of CIT’s ability to provide economic and social enablement to the ACT economy via contemporary vocational workforce solutions.

“Industry and students have told us traditional classrooms isolated from employers and removed from the broader ecosystem are no longer capable of meeting the needs of the changed world of work. CIT needs to continue to evolve to transform the way we teach to help equip students with the vocational education, industry relevance and skills needed for the ACT to prosper.”

- Statement ends -

Meegan Fitzharris, MLA | Chris Steel, MLA | Media Releases

Media Contacts

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Claire Johnston

(02) 6205 0022

0452 597 459

clairev.johnston@act.gov.au


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