About 12 Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning students have transformed an empty shop front into Lavington Square Cubby House, a place where young children can play during a shopping outing.

A joint project between Wodonga TAFE and Vicinity Centres, the room includes toys, dress-ups, chairs for carers and brightly coloured posters on the walls.

Within minutes of Monday’s official opening, children were checking out the Cubby House’s attractions.

As part of the six-week makeover, the students had to clean up the area, repair some skirting boards, do an occupational health and safety risk assessment and choose materials for redecorating. Overseen by teacher Sharon Nevinson, they developed their communication, teamwork and problem solving skills.

Two of the group, Jack Dinan, 16, of Howlong, and Wodonga’s Jasmine Fraser, 17, said it was more like fun than hard work. Both had found their former schooling difficult but enjoyed the varied VCAL activities.

“I wasn’t really getting anywhere at school,” Jasmine said. “I made the decision to come to TAFE and see if it worked and if it didn’t, I’d go back to school and try something else, but it worked.”

Jack said the project had helped with self-control.

“We learned not to be stupid out of class, don’t be yelling and swearing and stuff,” he said. “Learning and growing up, finally.”

Wodonga TAFE’s Alex Sweetman said it was “a prime example to give them the skills and the confidence for success later on”.