Morisset High School will use the funds to set up a commercial kitchen which will enable it to deliver qualifications in hospitality and cooking.

Lake Macquarie High School, at Booragul, will establish an engineering workshop.

Morisset High principal Mark Snedden said the new kitchen offered several benefits.

Morisset was one of many schools which lost its cooking course ‘‘overnight’’ because of its lack of a commercial kitchen on site.

‘‘But this new kitchen means that we will also be able to hold full dinner functions here in a professional environment,’’ Mr Snedden said.

Head teacher of technological and applied studies, Lloy Dekker, said students would reap the full benefits of the new facilities.

‘‘We are very fortunate to have Timothy Post, an executive chef of 20 years’ experience, now on staff here as a home economics teacher,’’ Ms Dekker said.

The commercial kitchen follows the successful launch in May of the school’s commercial-grade hair salon, which was transformed from an old PE change room, offering students the chance to complete a Certificate II in hairdressing on site.

At Lake Macquarie High School, the existing metalwork facilities will be transformed into an engineering workshop, welding bays, machining and fabrication area.

The school’s P&C president Sharon Pope said the funding would help to address staff shortages in trades such as welding, fitting and metal fabrication.

‘‘The impact this will have on the community is immense,’’ she said.

‘‘We have both academic and hands-on students here and it certainly will attract more students to our school.’’

She said the engineering course would enable students to learn and practise their skills before heading into the workforce.

The funding was announced by Labor candidate for Charlton, Pat Conroy, who said: ‘‘[Trade training centres] keep kids engaged in school who would otherwise have thought about dropping out.’’