Goldfields LLEN

17/09/2026

🌟 Strong communities are built by people who invest in the next generation.

From local business owners to university and TAFE staff, our volunteers generously share their time, expertise and networks to help create opportunities for young people. We are incredibly grateful for the impact they make every day.

A special shout out to Brian Gould. If you've met Brian, you'll know how deeply he cares about the future of young people in our region. Brian has been supporting the LLEN since the inception of Passions & Pathways more than a decade ago and continues to champion our work through partnerships, program support, and in his role as Secretary of Goldfields LLEN.

Thank you Brian, and thank you to all our volunteers for helping young people see what's possible. 💙

16/09/2026

👏 A fantastic milestone for VIC VICE!

25,000 Victorian students have now had the opportunity to explore careers, connect with industry, and broaden their understanding of future pathways.

Goldfields LLEN is proud to be part of the network helping create these valuable experiences for young people across Victoria.

Congratulations to everyone involved!

25,000 Students and Counting! 🎉

Since launching in 2024, VIC VICE has now reached an incredible milestone of 25,000 student participants across Victoria.

For every student this represents an opportunity to explore careers, connect with industry and discover pathways they may not have otherwise had access to. From regional and rural communities to metropolitan schools, VIC VICE is helping young people broaden their horizons and make more informed decisions about their futures.

A huge thank you to our LLEN partners, schools and industry supporters who have helped make this milestone possible. Here's to the next 25,000 students! 👏

24/08/2026

📢 Thinking about your next step in work, training or study? Don't miss the Training & Skills Fair - Central Victoria!

Join more than 30 exhibitors from education, training, employment services, health and aged care, construction, trades and local industry at this free community event in Castlemaine.

Whether you're a job seeker, school leaver, career changer, VET student, returning to work, or exploring volunteer opportunities, this event is a great chance to connect with local pathways and opportunities.

🗓 Wednesday 2 September 2026
📍 Castlemaine Town Hall
⏰ Expo: 10.00am to 12.00pm
⏰ Information Sessions: 12.30pm to 2.00pm
🧩 Accessible and sensory-friendly early access from 9.45am

Meet employers, training providers, support services and community organisations all under one roof and explore pathways in:
✅ Health and care
✅ Construction and trades
✅ Courses and study
✅ Volunteering

Find out more and register via the Mount Alexander Shire Council event page.

20/08/2026

A great evening celebrating local impact with our wonderful team. 🌟

The Goldfields LLEN team had a fantastic night at the Be.Bendigo Business Excellence Awards last week as finalists in the Education & Training and Not-for-Profit categories.

We're proud of the impact being made through our work with schools, industry and community partners to support better pathways for young people across Central Victoria.

Congratulations to all of this year's winners and finalists. It was inspiring to celebrate the outstanding work happening across our community.

06/08/2026

Thanks Jacinta Allan for your support for the young people in our region.

Your continued advocacy alongside Maree Edwards MP has seen Passions & Pathways grow to develop the aspirations of thousands of students across Central Victoria.

As Jacinta Allan completes her time as Premier of Victoria, VicLLENs wants to take a moment to say thank you.

As Member for Bendigo East, she and Maree Edwards MP campaigned together for the funding behind Passions & Pathways , the Goldfields LLEN program that gives Bendigo-region primary students real, hands-on exposure to future careers, the kind of practical support that changes the trajectory of a young person's working life.

That's the heart of what Victoria's 31 Local Learning and Employment Networks do every day: building education and employment pathways so no young person is left behind. We're grateful for a Premier who backed that work.

Congratulations on a career of service to Victorians, Premier Allan.

29/06/2026

The Goldfields LLEN team are super proud to be named a finalist in the 2026 Bendigo Bank and Be.Bendigo Business Excellence Awards for Education and Training, and Not-for-profit categories.

This proves what strong local partnerships can achieve. Our impact is made possible by the schools, employers, industry partners, community organisations and supporters who work with us to create meaningful pathways for young people across our region.

Thank you to everyone who continues to open doors, share expertise and help build brighter futures for local young people.

26/06/2026

Thales Bendigo has officially opened applications for their 2026 Apprentice and Trainee intake, offering full-time opportunities in hands-on careers in advanced manufacturing, engineering, and defence industries.

These roles are highly regarded locally and provide a strong pathway into long-term careers with a global organisation.

👉 Australian-based roles: https://bit.ly/thales-apprenticeship-au
👉 Apprenticeship & Traineeship Guide: https://bit.ly/thales-apprenticeship-guide

This is a fantastic local opportunity:
• ✅ Full-time, paid apprenticeships
• ✅ Opportunities across technical and trade pathways
• ✅ Work with a leading global employer right here in Bendigo
• ✅ Strong future career prospects in a growth industry

📅 Applications close: 7 August 2026

Thales will also be in attendance at the upcoming Coffee with the Boss at Bendigo TAFE City Campus, 7th July, 3-5pm if you would like to chat to the team and find out more!

Workforce Australia Local Jobs BendigoThales Be.Bendigo City of Greater Bendigo

17/06/2026

✨ Announcing Our 2026 Committee of Management ✨

We’re excited to introduce the dedicated individuals who will guide and support our work in 2026. Their leadership, insight and commitment will help us continue creating opportunities for young people and strengthening outcomes across our community.

Executive Members:

Chair: Paul James, Academy Training & Assessment
Deputy Chair: Ember Chittenden, Bendigo Tech School
Treasurer: Cameron Boys, AFS & Associates Chartered Accountants
Secretary: Brian Gould, Volunteer

Committee Members:

Ella Filsell, City of Greater Bendigo
Niall Hensey, Volunteer
Owen Macer, Maryborough Education Centre
Vicky Mellington, Dhelkaya Health
Anne Marie Rodgers, Victory Christian College
Caitlin Rogers, La Trobe University, Bendigo
Cathryn Smith, Bendigo TAFE
Dr. Adam Staples, La Trobe University, Bendigo
Christopher Yeoman, Bendigo TAFE

👏 Please join us in welcoming our 2026 Committee!

12/06/2026

What a fruitful partnership and fantastic experience for all year 7 and 8 students involved! As always, great work to Bendigo Tech School for creating these immersive opportunities.

26/05/2026

We were delighted to bring our community together for our 2026 AGM last week.

It was fantastic to see a strong turnout from across the region, coming together to connect, reflect and look ahead. A highlight of the evening was our panel discussion, Growing Aspiration: Building Futures for Young People Across the Goldfields Region.

Congratulations to Dave Richardson (Head of Campus, Bendigo TAFE), Ella Filsell (Deputy Youth Mayor, City of Greater Bendigo), and Ember Chittenden (Head of Programs, Bendigo Tech School) for their insightful perspectives and valuable discussion. The room was alive with energy for change, with a clear appetite to work more closely as a community to strengthen aspirations and opportunities for young people across our region.

We also welcome our newly appointed Committee of Management for the year ahead, with members to be announced in the coming days.

Thank you to everyone who attended and continues to support this important work.