Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts today announced $47,500 funding for North Coast TAFE for two projects delivering new resources and training to real estate agents locally and across the region.

Mr Roberts made the announcement today during his two day visit to the region.

North Coast TAFE is using the funding to develop a range of new online resources and to provide essential training for real estate agents through 17 campuses in the north coast region.

Director of TAFE Services, Helyn Davison, welcomed the funding and said it would ensure vocational education was accessible, particularly for people in regions and remote areas.

The Minister is today and tomorrow visiting local Fair Trading Centres in Tweed Heads, Grafton and Coffs Harbour, as well as the Ballina Headlands Leisure Park in Ballina, the Northern NSW Aboriginal Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Service in Grafton, Anglicare North Coast in Coffs Harbour and the Coffs Harbour Fishermen’s Co-Operative.

The Minister is presenting annual funding cheques of $509,297 and $104,337 respectively to the TAAS service and Anglicare.

Details: Northern NSW Aboriginal TAAS, 49 Queen Street Grafton: 4–4.30pm today and Anglicare North Coast, 59 Grafton Street, Coffs Harbour: 11.30am–12pm tomorrow.

“I am delighted to be in the region, together with local MPs, visiting our hard working Fair Trading staff and talking to funded services and the people and organisations regulated by my department,” Mr Roberts said.

The Minister is being joined by the Member for Ballina, Don Page, the Member for Tweed, Geoff Provest and the Member for Coffs Harbour, Andrew Fraser.

Mr Roberts said the Northern NSW Aboriginal Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Service provided outstanding support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients from Taree to Tweed Heads, Armidale to Moree and in the Newcastle region.

“Anglicare North Coast provides a free, five day per week financial counselling service covering Coffs Harbour and the Clarence Valley” he said.

“These organisations, together with grant recipients like TAFE, augment the services and support provided by the state government through Fair Trading.

“These community and other government providers are helping Fair Trading enhance market outcomes, maintain industry excellence and care for people who will otherwise not achieve equitable treatment.”

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