A New Era for Coffs Coast Community College

12.03.2015

Chairperson of the Coffs Coast Community College, Jan Newland, hosted over 40 local business and industry representatives at the launch of a strategic partnership between the College and Community Care Options at a function last Thursday 12 March 2015.

Coffs Coast Community College has been delivering training services in Coffs Harbour since 1998. In 2014 the Community College Board was aware that like many Community Colleges it was struggling to remain viable in a changing world of funding for training.

The College Board decided to approach other like-minded community organisations to explore the opportunities for partnership and shared back of house functions as a way of ensuring that Coffs Coast Community College could keep its doors open and remain a valuable resource to its community.

A number of not for profit organisations put forward a proposal to the College Board including Community Care Options. The College Board considered that the Community Care Options proposal gave the best opportunity for partnership between local organisations that were both clearly focussed on community development and a desire to retain and promote skills within our local community.

A formal MOU was entered into in August 2014 with the support of State Training Services.

Business leaders at the event discussed where there may be gaps in localised training and support in an endeavour to create new opportunities for their employees to upskill.

The combined goal of both organisations is to achieve better outcomes for its community through developing tailored training and learning opportunities for local businesses.