TAFE Courses in Bendigo

Bendigo is one of the major cities in Victoria, Australia. If you consider all of the outlying towns in the area that fall under the City of Greater Bendigo, it covers an impressive 3000 square kilometres. It was born during the gold rush but is now a major centre for tourism, education, engineering, and commerce. It’s one of the largest rural towns in Australia and Bendigo TAFE caters to all students in the surrounding area.

Bendigo TAFE– previously called Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE–takes care of all the vocational education and training needs in the area.

Let’s take a closer look at what TAFE Courses in Bendigo has to offer students.

Popular TAFE Courses in Bendigo

• Diploma of Counselling
• Certificate in MYOB 19
• Certificate III in Education Support (Teacher’s Aide)
• Certificate III in Aged Care
• Certificate IV in Bookkeeping
• Diploma of Share Trading and Investment
• Certificate II in Nail Technology
• Certificate IV in Small Business Management
• Diploma of Events
• Certificate III in Disability

What TAFE Study Options are Available to me in Bendigo?

Bendigo TAFE caters to all sorts of people. It has apprenticeships and traineeships for people who want to learn whilst at school, or work, or even if you just have other commitments in general. It has TAFE certificates and diplomas that combine some practical elements with theoretical learning. There are short courses for professional development and personal interest, and there are courses for international students.

Full-time, part-time, and online study options are available. Government funding options and financial incentives in the form of scholarships and bursaries to encourage people to improve their education.

Semester Courses

All of the semester TAFE courses at Bendigo are nationally accredited and recognised. All of the semester courses are offered on-campus, some are offered online, and some blend online and offline components. Some of the courses at Bendigo TAFE offer pathways to undergraduate degrees at La Trobe University and Ballarat University. Articulation programs are available in several study areas, including nursing, early childhood development, education, IT, accounting, business, commerce, management, tourism and hospitality, applied management, and science and arts.

The full spectrum of courses available covers the following study areas:

• Information Technology
• Hair & Beauty
• Management & Human Resources
• Creative Arts & Digital Media
• Graphic Design & Building Design
• Writing & Music
• Agriculture, Horticulture & Land Management
• Automotive
• Building & Construction
• Electrical & Electronics
• Engineering
• Mining
• Occupational Health & Safety
• Plumbing
• Aged Care & Disability
• Children’s Services
• Community Services
• Laboratory Operations
• Nursing & Allied Health
• Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander
• English Studies
• General Education & Training
• VCE, VCAL and Preparatory Courses

Short Courses

Bendigo TAFE also has plenty of short courses for professionals who want to improve their skills in their field or start learning a new skillset. Many of the accredited short courses can be used as credit for other TAFE qualifications, which is great if you want to test the water with a short course and then decide that you would like to take it further.

There are also unaccredited short courses that are ideal for people who want to develop their hobbies. You’ll have to check the website to find out what courses are available when.

Some of the short courses on offer include:

• Foot in the Door Hospitality Program
• Introduction to Vibrational Medicine
• Design with Adobe Illustrator
• Advanced Welding
• Apply First Aid Level 2
• AutoCAD (Basic – Advanced)
• Beekeeping
• Basic Car Maintenance
• Drawing Techniques
• Introduction to Philosophy
• Police Entrance Exam Preparation
• Watercolour Basics

Correspondence Courses

Students who want or need the flexibility and convenience of studying by correspondence can do so via Bendigo TAFE’s online learning system. Students are given all the support they need to safely use the Bendigo TAFE online system so that they can get the most benefit from the platform.

Bendigo TAFE Institutions

Bendigo TAFE

Three of the former Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE’s six campuses are in Bendigo itself and now operate under Bendigo TAFE as of 2009. Bendigo City Campus is the main campus. The other campus locations are in the city surrounds, namely Bendigo TAFE Echuca campus and Castlemaine campus.

TAFE Certificate and Diploma courses available include:

• Certificate II in Engineering Studies (Pre-apprenticeship in Welding Fabrication or Fitting and Machining)
• Certificate II in Mining/Field Exploration Operations
• Certificate III in Information, Digital Media & Technology
• Certificate III in Hospitality (Commercial Cookery)
• Certificate III in Wool Clip Preparation
• Certificate III in Landscape Construction
• Certificate IV in Visual Arts
• Certificate IV in Design
• Certificate IV in Aged Care
• Certificate IV in Spoken and Written English – Further Studies
• Diploma of Beauty Therapy
• Diploma of Community Services Work
• Advanced Diploma of Disability

Bendigo for Students

V/Line buses provide for Bendigo’s public transport needs. Student passes (Victorian Public Transport (VTP) Student Concession Cards) are available for those who are over 17 years old.

The city has plenty to offer students looking for something to do during their downtime. Some of the affordable activities that might pique students’ interest include:

• Bendigo Art Gallery. It’s one the oldest galleries in the country with permanent collections of 19^th century International and Australian art, and modern and contemporary art. It also hosts several different exhibitions throughout the year which caters to a variety of different tastes. Entry is by donation, although some exhibitions may have an entrance fee.
• La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre showcase contemporary art. It also hosts several exhibitions per year, as well as lectures, talks by guest artists, and public seminars. Entrance is free.
• Discovery Science & Technology Centre is not free, but it is affordable and well worth a visit. It has over 100 exhibits and includes the Bendigo Planetarium. Don’t be put off by the kid-centric approach. It’s heaps of fun for adults.
• Bendigo Community Farmers Market is held on the second Saturday of every month. It’s a great opportunity to stock up on organic fruit and veggies and wine.
• Buda House & Garden is also affordable and is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon soaking up some local art and culture and basking in the beauty of the budding blooms.
• Winery Cycle Train, which is a wine route with a difference.
• O’Keefe Rail Trail, which contains 19km of walking tracks in and around the Bendigo Field Naturalists Flora Reserve and Axedale Cemetery.
• Lake Weeroona, which has a coffee shop, kids play area, a walking/cycling tracks, and picnic facilities.
• Crusoe Reservoir & No 7 Park, which caters to all of your watersports needs.