The Ballarat Independent.

17 August 2012 - Two of Australia's fastest thinkers - one from motor sport and the other from the finance world - are leading a technology and business road show that rolls into Ballarat later this month.

On Sunday 8th July a meeting will be held at Trades Hall Ballarat at 2pm for all people interested in opposing the cuts to TAFE provision and education and training in our region. Everyone is invited, if they want to listen, if they want to speak or if they want to become actively involved.

After grandstanding at last night's Council meeting that politics has no place in Council, Ballarat's Liberal Councillors then split down party lines in sheer hypocrisy, to vote against a motion calling on the Baillieu Government to review its disastrous cuts to TAFE and VET.

Lack of funding to the Arts Academy whilst the VCA receives 24 million.

Lets get some facts and figures about disability sorted out. According to the ABS, just under one in five Australians, or four million people, are officially recognised by the government as having pensionable disabilities. Of those, 15.6% site a bad back as their disability and 14.8% claim they have arthritis.

The Ballarat Mechanics' Institute sits proudly in the centre of the city, but what do you really know about it? Melissa Watts discovers that inside the old building is a hive of activity.

As a teacher, it's my number one responsibility not to teach students the knowledge and skills that they will need to get by in the increasingly complex 21st century world, but to instill a creeping, gnawing dread deep within their hearts.

The Victorian Government has decided to cut $481 million dollars out of the VCAL budget over the next 4 years. Melissa Watts explains the potential impact of these cuts and why it matters.