TAFE NSW Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence announced

The NSW and federal governments have announced combined funding of $53.95 million to support a new TAFE centre in western Sydney to deliver training in engineering, transport and renewable energy.

In a joint statement on Thursday, the governments said the TAFE NSW Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence – Western Sydney at the Wetherill Park Campus will be the first of three centres of excellence and serve 10,000 learners over four years. 

An opening date for the new centre was not given.

The Australian government said it had allocated $325 million under the five-year National Skills Agreement, beginning in January 2024, to establish up to 20 TAFE Centres of Excellence nationally. 

According to the statement, the new centre will:

• enable apprentices to access degree-level learning while retaining a focus on existing hands-on skills; 
• support the development of microskills and microcredentials;
• give apprentices access to cutting-edge equipment and technology;
• establish arrangements with university partners to share knowledge and collaborate on course design and delivery; and
• develop partnerships with local industry to inform course design.

“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,” said premier Chris Minns (pictured on right.)

Picture: credit Steve Whan

Further reading

Skills ministers flesh out new National Skills Agreement