TAFE

The recently announced 2021-2022 Federal Budget has failed the next generation of welders, with a noticeable lack of funding allocated to TAFE, and vocational training more broadly. This is despite the serious skills shortage facing Australian industry, exacerbated by border closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Workforce skills program developers, Innovation and Business Skills Australia (IBSA), has appointed three new directors to its board. The new directors are Diverseco CEO Brenton Cunningham, TAFE senior executive Jenny Dodd, and BAE Systems Chief People Officer, Danielle Mesa. IBSA chair Graeme Russell is excited to have industry leaders of the calibre of Cunningham, Dodd … Continue reading IBSA appoints new board directors →

“We need to get the gas from under our feet.” So said Prime Minister Scott Morrison during a speech in late January, emphasising his plans for a “gas-led recovery” following the COVID-19 pandemic. Morrison has committed a whopping $6 billion to the development of gas in Australia, in an economic strategy that is entirely contrary … Continue reading A gas-led recovery will not work →

Four hundred and sixty industry employers and representatives joined the national discussion for ways to deliver modern manufacturing through a skilled workforce. Following the government’s recent announcement of the Modern Manufacturing Strategy, Senator Michaelia Cash introduced the webinar series and set the challenge to industry to provide relevant and timely advice to help deliver the … Continue reading Voice of industry takes centre stage in manufacturing skills events →

Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney announced this week a $274 million  guarantee to lock in funding at pre-pandemic levels so that Victoria’s training system can continue to deliver world class training through to 2021. Up to $274 million will be available for business continuity grants to TAFEs, dual sector universities, … Continue reading Boost for TAFE and training sector in Vic →

NSW Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee has launched an Expression of Interest process for industry and universities to partner with TAFE NSW in the design and delivery of its Digital Technology Centre of Excellence at Meadowbank. The NSW Government is investing $154 million to transform TAFE NSW Meadowbank into the first digital … Continue reading Call for industry to partner TAFE NSW following $154m investment in Meadowbank campus →

An $18.34 million package has been unveiled by the Western Australian state government to help build a pipeline of skilled workers for manufacturing. The funding will support upcoming defence projects to WA and enhance the state’s capacity to secure future defence work, which is expected to be valued up to $75 billion nationally over the … Continue reading WA government announces $18m to develop skilled workers for manufacturing →

The Victorian Government’s is continuing to build better TAFEs, unveiling dozens of upgrades to TAFEs across the state in a move that will create jobs and help drive Victoria’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney today announced every TAFE in Victoria will share in $55 … Continue reading $55m by Vic government to upgrading TAFES →

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan has announced $17 million for new trades training workshops at South Regional TAFE’s Albany campus. Outdated workshops will be replaced with contemporary facilities to ensure people in the Great Southern have access to high-quality training to meet the demands of the local industry. The project, part of the Rebuilding out … Continue reading WA invests $17 million in regional trades training →

A report detailing the WA government’s commitment to preparing the workforce for the digital world and futures for displaced workers is available to the public. These came about from the recommendations from the Review of Skills, Training and Workforce Development – many of which are already in place. The 41 observations and recommendations focus on … Continue reading WA gov’s focus to get workforce upgraded and skilled →

The Western Australian state government is giving a $57 million package for the training sector that will deliver 15 free short courses and slash TAFE fees by as much as 72 per cent for thousands of Western Australians as part of the WA Recovery Plan. In an expansion of the Lower Fees, Local Skills initiative … Continue reading $57 million recovery package for WA TAFE and training sector →

Although often operating in the background, IBSA has an important role to play in Australian manufacturing. The work of ensuring that vocational education courses are up to date is one that is often unseen or unknown to the wider industry. But it is one that is critical to the future success of the manufacturing industry. … Continue reading Combining flexibility and innovation →

New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced a review into TAFE and training for tradespeople to be led by David Gonski AC and Professor Peter Shergold AC. The review will consider a HECS-style program for TAFE students, greater industry involvement and aims to increase employment prospects for trades graduates. Issues that will be examined … Continue reading NSW government announces review into training for tradies →

In order to address the skills shortage in naval shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing, TAFE South Australia has signed an MoU with French engineering services company, Groupe FIVA towards an industry and educational collaboration relating to engineering skills  in manufacturing design. “Working with experienced industry partners will ensure our curriculum and skills development aligns with the … Continue reading TAFE SA and Groupe FIVA team up to tackle skills shortage →

The Certificate III Engineering Fabrication Trade course at Western Australia’s South Metropolitan TAFE has been recognised as providing the requisite skills for Australia’s naval shipbuilding program. The course was recognised by the Naval Shipbuilding College, a partnership between Kellogg Brown & Root and Huntington Ingalls Industries, which aims to grow the workforce for programs including … Continue reading WA TAFE course accredited for naval shipbuilding program →

A new school that will equip students with the skills needed for the future will use entirely locally produced structural steel. The school, located in Whyalla, South Australia, is a $100 million project, and will source 650 tonnes of structural steel from the Whyalla Steel Mill, at a purchase price of $3.5m. Whyalla steelworks is … Continue reading Whyalla school utilises locally produced steel →

The NSW government will encourage more high school students to pursue future education through TAFE through a new program to embed trade education in senior secondary schooling. The move comes as part of an overhaul of the curriculum in NSW, with an interim review by Professor Geoff Masters recommending that students have a greater focus … Continue reading Curriculum overhaul to drive VET enrolments →

TAFE will look to deliver training in digital trades to meet the growth of “blue tech” jobs, such as cyber security, data and analytics, augmented and virtual reality, software engineering, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence. Following from a study tour to Canada and the US, TAFE Directors Australia (TDA) highlighted three themes … Continue reading TAFE looks to prepare students with digital trades qualifications →

Australia’s trainees and apprentices took their skills to the world’s best this August at the WorldSkills Competition. Placing eighth overall, the team of 15 made up one of 66 national teams that competed in the Russian city of Kazan. The competition, which showcases the benefits of skilled trade professionals and vocational institutions, ranked contestants with … Continue reading Australia lands 8th in the WorldSkills competition →

What to expect from the upcoming National Manufacturing Summit. Weld Australia is pleased to announce that it will once again host the National Manufacturing Summit. The 2019 National Manufacturing Summit will see a diverse group of industry stakeholders assemble in Melbourne to tackle key issues facing the Australian manufacturing industry. The Summit will be held … Continue reading National Manufacturing Summit: Skills for the Future →