The Commonwealth and State Governments are jointly investing $70.5 million over five years to establish Australia's first TAFE Clean Energy Skills National Centre of Excellence in Western Australia.
The centre will operate across the WA TAFE network and be a skills leader in clean energy science, engineering, construction, and operation, supporting the net zero transformation and a Future Made in Australia.
The Clean Energy Skills National Centre of Excellence will:
- Innovate training in clean energy technologies, including solar, wind, hydrogen, batteries and grid integration, and fast-track development and delivery of higher and degree-equivalent apprenticeship pathways;
- Equip students with practical skills and knowledge-based capabilities to support innovation in the clean energy sector;
- Build on existing collaborations between WA TAFEs, universities, and industry to co-design industry relevant training programs, facilitate applied research, and strengthen entry pathways between VET and higher education;
- Partner with industry to drive skill development and support participation of more Western Australians, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and women, in clean energy jobs, and;
- Network with TAFEs in other states and leverage partnerships with universities, Jobs and Skills Councils, employers, and unions to build the clean energy skills base across Australia.
Because of the size, scale, and diversity of projects being developed across WA in solar, wind, hydrogen, and batteries, the Centre of Excellence will leverage the existing strengths of the network of TAFEs across the State.
It will expand access to clean energy skills training opportunities at TAFE campuses in metropolitan Perth and in regional areas including Kalgoorlie, Albany, Bunbury, Geraldton, Karratha, and Broome.
A hub and spoke model will harness and develop the capability of WA TAFEs and training providers for thousands of Western Australians to skill up for our clean energy future.
Increasing the number of apprentices, particularly in trades such as electrical, engineering, automotive mechanical, plumbing, air conditioning, refrigeration, metal fitting and machining is vital to ensuring WA and Australia have the skills needed to reach net zero by 2050.
Under the guidance of an Industry Advisory Board, the Centre of Excellence will create a front door for industry to access comprehensive training and workforce solutions.
The Commonwealth Government will invest $32.75m, matched by the WA Government, as well as a further $5.04m to accelerate the creation of the centre to help meet the demand for a growing clean energy skilled workforce in the nation's transition to net zero.
The Commonwealth Government is investing $325m under the five-year National Skills Agreement that began on 1 January to establish a network of up to 20 TAFE Centres of Excellence in areas of high skills needs.
