Media releases

New high-tech equipment, including small humanoid robots designed to interact with people, will be used to help prepare students at Ballarat Tech School for modern workplaces.

The equipment is funded from the Victorian Government’s 2021-2022 Tech School Equipment Renewal Fund and will enable students to build their skills in science, technology, engineering, and maths.

Ballarat Tech School is located within Federation TAFE’s Ballarat campus and is a partnership between the university, TAFE and Victorian Government, providing fun and interactive classes in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to secondary school students from across the region.

The robots will be part of the school’s Human Assistant Program, which focusses on the future use of robots in the health and social assistance sectors. The robots are used by companies and healthcare centres to welcome, inform and evenentertain visitors.

The funding will also help to purchase new programmable robotics kits, to increase the capacity of existing automation programs. They will also enable progression to more complex sensor tech, artificial intelligence, and machine learning activities.

New Thermomix machines will double the capacity of the school’s Bushfoods Chocolate by Design and Future Food programs. The machines are used in the Food and Fibre subject that prepares students for jobs in the rapidly changing and competitive food industry.

Other equipment includes a full class set of new virtual reality headsets that are safer, more versatile, and easier to use and indoor/outdoor drones for a new program being co-designed with partner schools in 2022. 

Quotes attributable to Federation University Pro Vice-Chancellor (Vocational Education and Training) and CEO TAFE, Liam Sloan 

“We want to equip our young people at the Ballarat Tech School with the skills and knowledge they need to work for high tech industries.” 

“This new high-tech equipment will enable them to have a competitive advantage in gaining employment.” 

Quotes attributable to Ballarat Tech School Associate Director, Damon Minotti 

“By updating our equipment, we can continue to evolve our humanoid robotics programs to keep pace with changes in technology and industry.” 

“Having this equipment will give local students and teachers the chance to build their capabilities and confidence in science, technology, engineering and maths related learning and teaching.”