$60m TAFE centre to build up clean energy workforce


Joseph Brookes
Senior Reporter

Federal and NSW Labor governments are committing more than $60 million to establish a clean energy manufacturing training facility in Newcastle to build up a workforce and new nation-wide courses over five years.

The workforce is needed to support decarbonising and new industries spurred by net zero commitments and the governments’ industry and energy policies.

The Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence was launched at the existing TAFE campus at Tighes Hill by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Chris Minns on Tuesday.

It follows the launch of an advanced manufacturing TAFE centre and commitments to a hydrogen centre in Sydney.

The Prime Minister and NSW Premier in Newcastle on Tuesday. Image: X.com

The centres are the first test of a new higher apprenticeship model based on universities, TAFE NSW and local industry partnering on responsive training. The model will offer a parity of status between VET and higher education.

A network of up to 20 TAFE Centres of Excellence in areas of high skills needs could be launched under the new five-year National Skills Agreement that starts next year.

The state government is investing $28.1 million over five years in the Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence, while the federal government will tip in $33 million.

Training is aimed at workers in new or changing clean industries, with many participants expected to come from shuttered coal mines. Mobile training units will offer course delivery in regional and remote areas of NSW.

The new centre is a key plank in the state government’s election commitment to deliver 1000 new apprenticeships a year.

The Newcastle centre will also establish a National Renewable Energy Microskills Marketplace for other TAFE facilities to access renewable industry-related digital non-accredited courses.

Analysis of clean energy workforce requirements by Jobs and Skills Australia last year forecast that Australia will need thousands of newly skilled workers, while the agency’s head in August warned that 38 clean-energy occupations are already in short supply and post school training needs significant changes to meet the growing demand.

While the state government committed to the centres of excellence back in early 2023, they are now also being positioned as key piece of the Albanese government’s Future Made in Australia agenda.

The federal policy will offer public support for strategic industries through tax production credits and direct investments. It is an effort to crowd in private capital and incubate industries that don’t yet have mature markets, like green hydrogen and quantum computing.

“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 on Tuesday.

“The Hunter has a proud history of industry and manufacturing – which is why this is the perfect place for this Centre of Excellence.

Last month, the state government announced a Western Sydney Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence

The Minns government also committed to a Hydrogen Centre of Excellence in Glenwood Sydney from 2026 to train plumbers in specialist skills such as fire protection, fire control, plumbing and hydrogen.

Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.

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