Wollongong’s TAFE campus will be upgraded and new courses offered for heavy industry manufacturing in Defence and transport sectors under a $47 million state and federal initiative aimed at feeding a new industry agenda.
The Illawarra Heavy Industry Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at the existing campus was locked in on Tuesday as part of federal and state Labor governments’ plan to roll out up to 20 of the centres around NSW.
The latest centre is in steelmaking heartland and arrives amid a new green hydrogen equipment push in the Illawarra. It will also trial new qualification models and microcredentials in one of the worst skills crisis in decades.
The heavy manufacturing initiative follows a clean energy centre in Newcastle and an advanced manufacturing centre in Sydney, as well as commitments last year to a hydrogen plumbing centre.
The Illawarra Heavy Industry Manufacturing Centre of Excellence will provide training in operating equipment, as well as digital and robotic technologies. and advanced manufacturing techniques.
In a bid to meet changing industries and worfkforce demand, the revamped TAFE facility will also trial a new mixed education pathway model in an Associate Degree in Manufacturing and Applied Digital Technologies.
The state government committed to new centres of excellence ahead of the 2023 election and has landed additional federal funding.
The Albanese government committed $325 million to the Centres of Excellence as part of the National Skills Agreement this year.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Illawarra is the “perfect place” for the manufacturing push that will support his wider industrial policy.
“Investing in a Future Made in Australia means investing in the skills and training industry will need in the years to come,” Mr Albanese said.
The state government is also building up the local workforce as it embarks on a new era of domestic manufacturing and procurement.
“Whether its trains, buses or ferries, we want to build things here in NSW,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said.
“The Illawarra is a powerhouse of manufacturing, and the TAFE NSW Centre of Excellence will build on these strengths, delivering more education and training so local workers are skilled in new technologies.
“The centre will create a pipeline of skilled workers so we have the mechanical and electrical engineers, machinists and metal welders needed to secure the regions future and support a thriving domestic advanced manufacturing industry in NSW.”
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