The State Government has delivered Western Australia's newest TAFE campus, a $39 million multi-storey building in the heart of Armadale's town centre.
Officially opened today by Premier Roger Cook and Training and Workforce Development Minister Simone McGurk, the new multi-storey South Metropolitan TAFE campus on Church Avenue will deliver world-class training to students in Perth's outer south-eastern suburbs.
South Metropolitan TAFE is offering industry-relevant courses across business, childcare, community services, education support, general education and information technology at the new campus, helping to skill local students to take up jobs in the State's diversifying economy.
The new campus consolidates multiple vocational training facilities into a standalone training hub for the local community, with almost double the training capacity of the previous facilities.
The expanded student capacity comes after publicly funded vocational course enrolments reached a new record high of over 153,800, off the back of the State Government's fee free and low fee TAFE courses for in-demand areas such as construction, engineering, logistics, electrical trades, early childhood education and care, and community services.
The new Armadale campus will also improve delivery of training initiatives such as the Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Students program, which gives secondary school students an opportunity to gain a vocational qualification as part of their WA Certificate of Education.
Designed by Fremantle architectural practice Armstrong Collective and built by local construction company PS Structures, the project employed more than 500 workers throughout construction, including apprentices and trainees.
It includes state-of-the-art simulated childcare facilities for early learning education, specialist training areas for information technology and emerging industries, and classrooms and computer laboratories for business and general education courses. The campus is also equipped with a modern student hub, a creche and outdoor terraces offering local students a comprehensive training experience in their local community.
The new building also has a Jobs and Skills Centre, with friendly and professional staff available to provide practical one-on-one advice to jobseekers and those looking to upskill or retrain about training and employment opportunities.
This project is part of the State Government's record $250 million investment in new and upgraded infrastructure across WA TAFE colleges to ensure Western Australians have access to world-class training facilities in their communities.
Premier Roger Cook said, "My Government is committed to training local people for local jobs – ensuring all Western Australians have opportunities to benefit from our booming economy.
"We are investing more than ever before in TAFE capital works, modern equipment and fee-free and affordable training to help grow our State's supply of local, skilled workers.
"This impressive new TAFE campus will be a huge asset for Armadale and Perth's outer south-eastern suburbs, meaning locals can get industry-standard training close to home.
"It is a major boost for students and businesses alike, with the increased student capacity and world-class training to enable the local community to take up great job opportunities as our economy diversifies."
Training and Workforce Development Minister Simone McGurk added, "The State Government has invested $39 million to consolidate vocational training facilities in Perth's outer south-eastern suburbs into one modern, centrally located campus, providing the local community with additional student training places.
"This investment in new infrastructure ensures the Armadale community has access to training in modern, world-class facilities — such as simulated childcare centres — to get them job-ready.
"The new Armadale TAFE campus will be a central training hub for the local community, enabling people to gain skills, reskill or upskill to excel in our State's workforce."
Armadale MLA Tony Buti noted, "The opening of the new Armadale TAFE campus today is the result of the State Government's ongoing efforts to provide local training opportunities for local workers.
"Young school leavers, job seekers and mature-aged career changers alike in Perth's fast-growing south metropolitan corridor will now benefit from accessing world-class training opportunities, which will set them up for rewarding careers.
"The new Armadale TAFE campus will also create a vibrant community hub close to public transport, shops, and cafés, making training locally a more accessible option."
