THE new Frankston TAFE building, which will host around 2000 students a year, was officially opened last week.
The state government spent $67.6 million on the new building, and is spending a total of $151.1 million to redevelop the entire campus. The new facility will be used to teach the Diploma of Community Services, Certificate IV in Mental Health, Certificate IV in Youth Work, Certificate IV in Cyber Security, and more.
Chisholm Institute board chair Gillian Miles said the new facilities, which welcomed students last year, are improving outcomes at the school. “New learning environments help every Chisholm student achieve and support our communities to be job-ready,” he said. Chisholm Institute CEO Stephen Varty said “Chisholm stands for excellence. This new building is a shining example of how TAFE delivers on this commitment, and our belief that excellence should be accessible to everyone”.
Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke attended the opening last week. He said “this state-of-the-art facility is a huge win for Frankston, giving our community access to free TAFE, helping them to get the skills they need and opening doors for the jobs they want.”
Dunkley MP Jodie Belyea said “as a former TAFE student, I know the value of public education and how important free TAFE is to giving people well-paid jobs and secure work. Chisholm’s new facility will give everyone in our community the chance to access education in critical sectors, without the financial barrier.”
The third stage of the Frankston campus redevelopment includes the construction of a new Frankston Tech School. Work on the project is well underway, and is expected to conclude in the second half of this year. The $85 million “Frankston Learning and Innovation Precinct” at the campus opened in 2019.

First published in the Frankston Times – 18 March 2025