MILLICENT Community Learning Centre (MCLC) staff have rolled up their sleeves and yielded paintbrushes to lead a major renovation of their current educational hub.
Staff have been busy demolishing and painting in order to transform the former Millicent TAFE centre’s technology classroom and the staff room into a flexible, open-plan learning space.
Following the transfer of the TAFE site to the Education Department, MCLC manager Sandy Hamilton said it was a prime opportunity to create an interactive learning space.
“We’ve removed a wall between the two old TAFE classrooms to create a big learning space for our students,” she said.
“The floor is being redone over the holidays with black tiles so it will allow us to be quite creative in decorating the centre.
“We’re talking about getting pops of colour with the furniture and getting some beanbags and high and low tables and chairs so students are able to sit and learn how they feel comfortable with.”
Ms Hamilton said the centre was aiming to develop the facility to a standard which would encourage individuals and groups outside the school community to use the facility.
“This is more of a building than MCLC needs and we really see it as an opportunity for the community to use the space and delivery programs,” she said.
“The centre is a really great site and there is a lot of opportunity for it to be used as a training centre.
“We really see it as an opportunity for the community to do things such as short educational courses or training meetings.
“We believe there is potential for growth and opportunity to broaden the community offerings and to ensure a strong,
sustainable connection to learning, community services and activites for children, young people and families.”
Ms Hamilton said a hub had the potential to strengthen relationships between the school and the greater community.
“The government is saying there is a lot of benefits of community hubs,” she said.
“Hubs support building community capacity between schools and the broader community through the sharing of resources, knowledge and expertise outside of school hours.
“They help build stronger social networks, enhance community wellbeing and increase engagement with lifelong learning.”
