NSW, federal governments announce $28.1 million each for Hunter net zero TAFE CoE

The NSW and federal governments have announced that they will spend $28.1 million each over five years to establish a Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Newcastle, aimed at developing workforce skills needed to support the energy transition.

According to a release from the state government on Tuesday, the funding will “accelerate the development of a Higher Apprenticeship model” to do with “net zero manufacturing”, and help build up new skills, including for the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone.

Premier Chris Minns (pictured on right) said: “We are getting on with the job of delivering three TAFE Centres of Excellence in NSW, a key part of our commitment to provide fully subsidised training to an additional 1,000 apprenticeships a year in advanced manufacturing and related industries.” 

Outcomes for the new centre at Tighes Hill TAFE are given as:

• Workforce development via technology-integrated learning, increasing access to training in regional and remote areas of northern NSW via mobile training units;
• Establishing a National Renewable Energy Microskills Marketplace, for TAFEs around the country to “share and access renewable industry-related digital non-accredited courses”; and
• Implementing a higher apprenticeship model, combining critical trade skills like electrotechnology, welding, and fabrication with “higher-level units in emerging areas such as digital technologies.”

The total amount of funding over five years was given as $60 million, including a further $5.27 million in federal funding for support on top of the $56.2 million from the NSW and federal government.

It is the second Manufacturing Centre of Excellence announced in NSW, following the September announcement of the Western Sydney Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at Wetherill Park.

Picture: credit Steve Whan

Further reading

TAFE NSW Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence announced

WA’s new clean energy skills TAFE announced