The Morrison Government has today announced a $7 million investment to assist construction of TasTAFE’s new Trades and Water Centre of Excellence at the Clarence campus to support more Tasmanians to take up a career in trades and electrotechnology.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said this investment will boost the skilled capability of the local workforce and kickstart the Tasmanian economy as we move into the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This funding is part of the Morrison Government’s $50 million investment to help state and territory governments revitalise their TAFE campuses,” Minister Cash said.
“The $50 million Revitalising TAFE Campuses Across Australia program will help improve vocational education infrastructure to ensure TAFEs are equipped to deliver training to the standards expected by industry and students.”
“I am pleased to announce the Centre of Excellence will receive $7 million in funding from the Commonwealth Government, in addition to the $14 million committed by the Tasmania Government.”
The revitalising TAFE initiative includes important funding across Australia, in partnership with states and territories, to carry out campus upgrades, expand services to meet industry skills needs, and upgrade IT infrastructure to improve TAFEs’ online capability.
“The centre can now expand its training platform with the new site able to train students for building and construction, plumbing and water, refrigeration and air-conditioning and smart buildings technologies, along with upskilling in renewables and hydrogen technologies.”
Senator for Tasmania and Assistant Minister Jonathon Duniam said there are currently 500 electrotechnology apprentices at TasTAFE, and now there is room for even more students to train for a trade in emerging industries that lead to real jobs.
“Investing in skills and training is especially important as Tasmania recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Assistant Minister Duniam said.
“The Government is focused on doing everything we can to get Australians back to work, which is why we announced our new JobTrainer fund, a $1 billion investment to give hundreds of thousands of Australians access to new skills and qualifications by upskilling them into sectors with job opportunities.
“In addition to this, we have committed $1.5 billion to expand the Supporting Apprenticeship and Traineeship Wage subsidy to keep support small and medium sized businesses to take on an apprentice.”
Construction on the Centre of Excellence will commence later this year. For more information about the Revitalising TAFE Campuses Across Australia program visit: https://www.employment.gov.au/revitalising-tafe-campuses-across-australia-initiative