​​Nyaal Banyul supporting training and jobs in Geelong​

The Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre (GCEC) has reached an important milestone, with the first cohort of trainees and apprentices employed under the GCEC Early Engagement Social Procurement (GEESP) program starting their 12-week training program.

These 12 local workers will be joined by 16 more in the coming months and by the time Nyaal Banyul is complete, the 28 trainees and apprentices – who have experienced barriers to employment – will have received 12 weeks of fully funded training counting towards a Certificate II in Construction Pathways through Gordon TAFE.

Development Victoria is proud to have co-designed The GEESP partnership with the Give Where You Live Foundation’s GROW initiative, social enterprise gforce. The program will be delivered by Built as the head contractor.

The program will support local businesses, individuals and the wider community by giving these trainees and apprentices real-world training and experience working with a team of 1,450 people on one of the most anticipated projects to be delivered in regional Victoria.

Through the GEESP program, Nyaal Banyul is establishing a gold standard for social procurement in government-led projects.

The Victorian Government is contributing $423 million towards Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre precinct, with the Australian Government contributing $30 million and the City of Greater Geelong $3 million. 

The precinct partnership also includes an initial $120 million investment from Plenary Conventions to secure what will be Geelong’s largest hotel, with a further $130 million earmarked to create a mixed-use development inside the precinct down the track. 

Find out more about the project, or for more information on the Geelong City Deal and precinct, visit the Australian Government Infrastructure site.