$36M Centre of Excellence in Disability

Chief Executive Officer of The Gordon, Joe Ormeno, said he was thrilled to be breaking ground on the project, which represents a defining moment for both The Gordon and vocational education more broadly.

We are building a place where inclusion is not an add-on, but a foundation. By centring the lived experience of people with disability at every stage of design and delivery, we are setting a new benchmark for how TAFE can support learners with disability to learn, belong and succeed.

--Chief Executive Officer of The Gordon, Joe Ormeno 

“As a Victorian TAFE Network Centre of Excellence, The Gordon will work alongside TAFEs across the state to share what works, build capability and drive lasting change across the system,” Mr Ormeno said.

Backed by a $36 million investment from the Victorian Government, the Centre will deliver improved access, inclusion and employment outcomes for students with disability across Victoria’s TAFE network, paving the way for more equitable learning environments now and into the future.

This centre will support people with disability to access real skills and employment opportunities. Free TAFE has benefitted more than 225,300 students in Victoria and trains our disability workforce. That’s why we are protecting it.

--Minister for Skills and TAFE, Gayle Tierney

The appointment of Kane Constructions as Main Works Contractor marks a significant step forward in delivering the Centre, with works now underway at The Gordon’s City Campus.

Several buildings at The Gordon’s City Campus will be revitalised as part of the project, creating a contemporary, inclusive hub for student support, teaching and sector collaboration.

Central to the Centre’s design and delivery is a strong commitment to co-creation. 

The Centre’s design is being led by Architectus, working closely with The Gordon and the Centre’s Co-Creation Team to bring a shared vision for inclusive learning to life.

Guided by lived experience, the design prioritises clear wayfinding and intuitive navigation, spaces to pause and recharge and calm, welcoming interiors with strong connections to landscaped outdoor areas. Carefully considered colours, materials and spatial layouts have been selected to support comfort, accessibility and wellbeing for all learners.

The Centre will feature best-practice inclusive learning environments supporting a range of courses, alongside a student services hub, meeting rooms, a cafeteria and student lounge and a sensory-landscaped courtyard. An industry collaboration space will also showcase inclusive design in practice, supporting knowledge sharing and capability building across the TAFE sector.

More than 180 stakeholders, including students, families, disability advocates, educators, employers and government partners, have shaped the shared vision for a more inclusive TAFE system, with a dedicated Co-Creation Team of current and former students with disability embedding lived experience into the Centre’s vision, operating model and design.

Participants have described the work as “trailblazing”, with the potential to influence policy, design and practice across the state.

Co-Creation Team member, former Building Design student and 2025 Student of the Year, Alicia Martin said: “Working with the teachers at The Gordon has been an incredibly healing experience and has allowed me to find my purpose again. Being involved with the Centre of Excellence has shown me that despite my limitations, I can turn up as myself and be valued. I now look forward to my future with hope and optimism—something I never thought possible.”

While construction is now underway, The Gordon is continuing to build momentum through community engagement, operating model development and sector collaboration, ensuring full value is realised from this major investment well ahead of the Centre’s opening in 2027.

The Gordon is working closely with people with disability, educators, government agencies and industry to ensure the Centre delivers lasting impact across Victoria’s TAFE system.