The
Albanese and Cook Labor 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 Albanese 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 Albanese 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.
This will help deliver a skilled workforce for
strategically important industries to meet national challenges.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Skills and Training
Brendan O'Connor:
"This $70m investment in a Clean Energy Skills National Centre of
Excellence highlights the importance of developing and building clean energy
skills for the net zero transition and a Future Made in Australia.
"This Centre of Excellence in WA will help develop high-quality,
responsive skills training in the critical and rapidly evolving clean energy
economy.
"Working with States and Territories, we're establishing up to 20
TAFE Centres of Excellence that will help respond to our most critical national
skills needs."
Quotes attributable to the WA Premier Roger Cook:
"We have ambitious plans for clean energy in
this State, a vision that is shared by the Federal Government, industry, and
Western Australians.
"As we leverage WA's natural advantages to
become a global clean energy powerhouse, the transition will offer a range of
exciting opportunities for Western Australians to pursue careers and take up
quality jobs of the future.
"It is important that we are at the forefront
of best practice in skilling and upskilling our workers for the clean energy
jobs that will support the transition, with the world's eyes looking to WA as
our people and industries lead the charge towards a clean energy future.
"The new Centre of Excellence will skill
thousands of Western Australians to take up quality clean energy jobs, and I
thank the Albanese Government for recognising WA as a key driver in the charge
towards a clean energy future."
Quotes attributable to the WA Minister for Training and Workforce
Development Simone McGurk:
"This Centre of Excellence is education and
training done in the most innovative way, with the Cook Government working
closely with industries and communities to develop clean energy skills.
"In
WA, clean energy projects will be located around the State and will require the
capability and capacity of all our TAFEs to deliver contemporary training using
world-class training facilities.
"This model will be critical in delivering the
skilled workforce in partnership with industry. Partnerships with universities
will also be important for the development of new qualifications, such as
higher apprenticeships for emerging industries.
"WA will become the beating heart of
Australia's development of skills and workforces to enable the clean energy
transition, and this will propel the State forward in meeting its target of net
zero by 2050."
Quotes attributable to the Member for Fremantle Josh Wilson:
"The global transition to net zero presents
enormous economic opportunity for WA. Our plan for a Future Made in Australia
acknowledges that we can't be left behind.
"Through the extensive investment in
TAFE, skills development, and the new Centre of Excellence, the Albanese
and Cook Governments are creating the next generation of highly skilled workers
to harness that opportunity.
"I am proud that this centre will have a
presence in Fremantle as it works to accelerate towards clean energy and net
zero, creating high-quality, and well-paid jobs for WA."
