The federal and New South Wales governments have partnered to inject nearly AU$25 million into expanding clean energy training facilities and growing the state’s vocational education workforce.
The joint AU$24.8 million package allocates AU$16.7 million to upgrade and expand training facilities across six TAFE NSW campuses, alongside an $8.1 million investment designed to bolster the capabilities of teachers, trainers, and assessors delivering renewable energy courses.
The TAFE NSW Campbelltown will receive $3.6 million to establish its first-ever electrotechnology training facilities.
The move aims to address a critical shortage of electricians and clean energy tradespeople in south-western Sydney, allowing local students to gain vital qualifications without commuting long distances.
Similar facility upgrades are locked in for TAFE campuses in Cessnock, Dubbo, Tamworth, Wellington, and Wyong.
Complementing the infrastructure upgrades, the AU$8.1 million workforce development package features targeted scholarships to help businesses cultivate in-house training talent.
It will also fund the upskilling of up to 500 TAFE NSW teachers in cutting-edge fields, including solar panel installation, battery storage systems, hydrogen safety protocols, and electric vehicle servicing.
Furthermore, a new shared teacher resourcing pilot between TAFE NSW and the NSW Department of Education will establish direct pipelines from secondary schools into renewable energy careers.
Federal Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles hailed the clean energy transition as a generational economic opportunity.
“Australia’s clean energy transition is one of the biggest opportunities of our time, and for the first time young people in these communities will be able to train locally and step straight into secure, well-paid jobs in the electrical trade,” Giles said.
NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan added that building a net-zero future required a highly proficient workforce.
“Building the clean energy workforce takes more than new infrastructure,” Whan said.
“By investing in training facilities, industry capability and teacher development, we’re delivering the skills that work for the jobs NSW will need in the decades ahead.”
