Wheatbelt training facilities overhaul to meet industry needs
Wheatbelt training facilities overhaul to meet industry needs
6th August, 2020
$2million upgrades for Central Regional TAFE's Northam campus
Wheatbelt training facilities overhaul to meet industry needs
6th August, 2020
$2million upgrades for Central Regional TAFE's Northam campus
The WA Minister for Education and Training was at Central Regional TAFE’s Northam campus today to announce a $2 million project to modernise the campus, as part of the State Government's Rebuilding our TAFEs plan.
Current facilities, which include light automotive, metals and construction workshops, will be replaced with contemporary training facilities and upgraded equipment to meet industry needs.The enhanced learning environments will ensure Wheatbelt students are trained to be job ready in industry areas essential to the region including building and construction, metal fabrication, automotive and engineering. The new facilities will meet demand for more skilled workers in the region by expanding training options.
Additionally, the upgraded workshops will be an integral to the region’s Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Students (VETDSS) programs, offering pathways into apprenticeships such as agricultural machinery technology and heavy commercial fitting.
The Northam campus spend is part of a $167.4 million investment in capital works projects, which will see five Western Australian TAFE colleges significantly upgraded. More than half of the total spend has been allocated to projects at regional TAFE colleges. The capital works projects, key to the State Government’s $229.2 million Rebuilding our TAFEs plan, will deliver state of the art learning opportunities for students and boost the WA economy by generating jobs.
The State Government has recently increased the number of half price* courses available, as part of the Lower fees, local skills initiative under the Skills Ready program. Initially launched in January, the initiative halved the cost of training for 34 high priority qualifications. In July, the program was expanded to include an additional 39 courses slashed by up to 72 per cent to align with the State's immediate economic needs following COVID-19. The courses with reduced fees, as well as new free* short courses, are also targeted at job opportunities that relate to capital works initiatives such as the Rebuilding our TAFEs plan.
Find out more about free and half price training on the Jobs and Skills WA website
*Half price applies to course fees only; other fees may apply. Please see website for details.
**Please visit the website for details of eligibility requirements for free training.