TAFE NSW Tamworth will receive a $950,000 upgrade to its electrotechnology training facilities, as part of a $25 million push by the Albanese and Minns Governments to grow the vocational workforce needed for the state’s energy transition.
The Tamworth investment will modernise existing training spaces to support industry-standard, clean energy aligned training. Upgrades include refurbishment of training spaces with improved finishes, lighting and air conditioning, a new switchboard and power distribution to support safe practical training, new classroom technology and specialist equipment.
TAFE NSW Tamworth is the New England region’s primary trades training hub, offering a broader range of qualifications than other campuses in the region, including electrotechnology, plumbing, carpentry, air conditioning and refrigeration, civil construction, and industrial electronics. The campus also delivers specialist clean energy training, including battery storage and solar design and installation skill sets, helping build the workforce needed for the New England Renewable Energy Zone and other clean energy projects.
Investing in Tamworth builds on existing facilities, providing greater training capacity than establishing new electrotechnology infrastructure at a campus where it does not currently exist. The construction phase of the New England REZ will draw workers from across the region and beyond, making regional training hubs like Tamworth critical to supplying the skilled workforce needed both during construction and into the future.
Tamworth is one of six TAFE NSW campuses sharing in $16.7 million to upgrade and expand clean energy training facilities, alongside Campbelltown, Cessnock, Dubbo, Wellington and Wyong. The announcement was made at TAFE NSW Campbelltown, where a separate $3.6 million investment will establish electrotechnology training facilities for the first time.
Federal Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles said the investment would let young people in regional communities train locally and move straight into secure jobs.
“Australia’s clean energy transition is one of the biggest opportunities of our time, and for the first time young people in these communities will be able to train locally and step straight into secure, well-paid jobs in the electrical trade,” Minister Giles said.
“This investment will expand access to high-quality training, delivered in local communities who are set to be at the forefront of this growing industry.”
“By partnering with the Minns Government to back TAFE and school partnerships, we are creating a clear path from school to a good job in renewable energy and ensuring Australians are the ones building and benefiting from this transformation.”
A further $8.1 million will strengthen the capability and capacity of teachers, trainers and assessors delivering clean energy training across NSW. That package includes scholarships to help businesses build workplace training and assessment capability, upskilling and retraining for up to 500 TAFE NSW teachers in emerging areas like solar panel installation, battery storage, hydrogen safety and electric vehicle servicing, and a shared teacher resourcing pilot between TAFE NSW and the NSW Department of Education to create pathways into renewable energy careers for secondary school students.
NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said the state needed a skilled workforce to build, maintain and power its clean energy future.
“The clean energy future of NSW depends on having the skilled workforce to build it, maintain it and power it,” Minister Whan said.
“That’s why we’re investing in both modern training TAFE NSW facilities and the teachers, trainers and assessors who help deliver those skills.”
For Tamworth, that means a trades hub already stretched by demand from the New England REZ getting the space and equipment to train more electricians closer to home.
“Building the clean energy workforce takes more than new infrastructure. By investing in training facilities, industry capability and teacher development, we’re delivering the skills that work for the jobs NSW will need in the decades ahead,” Minister Whan said.
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