New education centre to boost Vic student excellence

High-achieving VCE students are one step closer to getting a head start on their university education with the appointment of a builder for a new $27.5 million state-of-the-art learning centre.
Minister for Education James Merlino and Member for Southern Metropolitan Nina Taylor released the designs for the Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES) facility in South Yarra.
“The Centre for Higher Education Studies will provide new challenges for high-achieving VCE students and allow them to get a head start on their university education,” Merlino said.
“We are proud to be delivering this Centre as part of our commitment to nurture and support education of all levels as we build the Education State,” Taylor added.
CHES will improve educational outcomes for high-achieving secondary school students across Victoria by offering first year university-level courses and select VCE subjects accompanied by an enhancement and enrichment program.
This head start allows the most capable students to undertake a study that contributes to their ATAR whilst gaining university credits.
Figurehead Constructions has been appointed to build the facility with the centre to be built on Chapel Street, South Yarra on land sold to the Victorian Government by the Melbourne High School Foundation.
Works will start in the coming months and include an auditorium, technology-rich learning spaces and tertiary standard science and design labs at the state-of-the-art centre.
Construction is expected to be complete by mid-2022, with a range of programs available from this time and the full suite available from the start of 2023.
Students will remain enrolled at their chosen secondary school and be able to undertake a course at CHES as part of their VCE program.
Courses will be delivered both in person and virtually to support access for rural and regional students.