TAFE NSW adds eight new “microskills” targeting energy transition

TAFE NSW has launched eight new microskills related to renewables, with the NSW government citing the recently-signed National Skills Agreement and the need to transform the state economy for the net-zero transition.

The five-year National Skills Agreement (NSA) takes effect in January, with the federal government to invest $12.6 billion in the vocational and educational training sector, up to $3.8 billion of this in NSW.

The state’s skills minister, Steve Whan, said, “The National Skills Agreement means vital funding is secured to accelerate skills training in NSW, keeping TAFE NSW at the forefront of the sector.”

TAFE NSW’s eight new microskills are described as “short self-directed online courses” focussed on development of a specific skill, and to be rolled out over the next six months. 

These are:

• Emergency responder electric vehicle incident and emergency response;
• Introduction to fuel-cell electric vehicles;
• Contextualised fuel-cell electric vehicle;
• Hydrogen energy fundamentals;
• Electric vehicle charging station baseline knowledge;
• Refuelling fuel-cell electric vehicles;
• Prepare to work in the renewable energy sector; and
• Introduction to wind farms.

According to a NSW government statement on Monday, these courses would help “ensure as more consumers purchase electric vehicles and the electric bus fleet expands, existing workers in the automotive industry will be equipped with the required skills in maintenance, repair and charging of these vehicles.”

“This is a terrific first step in creating pathways to jobs in renewables and an essential step to decarbonising the economy,” added energy minister Penny Sharpe.

Picture: NCVER

Further reading

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Skills ministers flesh out new National Skills Agreement