The Federal and NSW Governments have announced joint funding of $53.95 million to establish the TAFE NSW Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence – Western Sydney.
The centre, located at TAFE NSW’s Wetherill Park Campus, will deliver advanced education and training in manufacturing across the engineering, transport and renewable energy sectors.
This is set to boost Western Sydney’s competitiveness as a place for global manufacturers to do business.
“Today we are delivering what we promised. A TAFE manufacturing centre of excellence in Western Sydney providing fully subsidised training for manufacturing apprentices,” said NSW Premier Chris Minns.
“This will create a pipeline of skilled workers so we have the fitters, machine operators and welders needed to support a thriving domestic advanced manufacturing industry in NSW.
The Centre of Excellence is set to:
- Enable apprentices to access degree-level learning while retaining a focus on existing hands-on skills.
- Support the development of microskills and microcredentials, allowing TAFE NSW to rapidly respond to emerging skills needs in evolving high-technology industries.
- Give apprentices access to cutting edge equipment and technology, including smart factories, industrial 3D printing, and robotic and automated manufacturing.
- Establish arrangements with university partners to share knowledge and collaborate on course design and delivery, bringing Vocational and Higher education closer together.
- Develop partnerships with local industry to inform course design, provide access to expertise, and host apprentices and trainees, providing benefits to both employers and learners.
As the first of three TAFE Centres of Excellence in NSW, the Centre is a key part of the NSW Government’s commitment to provide fully subsidised training to an additional 1,000 apprenticeships a year in advanced manufacturing and related industries.
Increasing the number of people qualified in advanced manufacturing is vital to support a Future Made in Australia.
The Centre will strengthen the Vocational Education and Training (VET) system by delivering skills training to 10,000 learners over four years.
This will ensure NSW and Australia has the diverse skills needed to support the country’s manufacturing sovereign capability.
The Australian Government is investing $325 million under the five-year National Skills Agreement that began on 1 January 2024, to establish a network of up to 20 TAFE Centres of Excellence in areas of high skills needs.
These Centres will help deliver a skilled workforce for strategically important industries to meet national challenges.