New free TAFE courses aim to develop manufacturing skills

The NSW Government has announced four new free TAFE courses have been established, designed to upskill Australians and support employment opportunities in the manufacturing industry.

The courses are being offered through the TAFE NSW Manufacturing Centres of Excellence, announced late last year to support manufacturing education and training across engineering, transport and renewable energy sectors.

Funded by $78.6 million matched investment from the Commonwealth and NSW governments ($157.2 million total over four years), the specialised training centres are being established at TAFE NSW campuses in three of NSW’s major manufacturing industry areas – Newcastle, Western Sydney, and the Illawarra.

The Free TAFE courses have been designed with industry to upskill existing workers and equip the future domestic manufacturing workforce for emerging industry needs, boosting onshore manufacturing capability and providing more career opportunities for local workers.

Enrolments are now open for three Microskills (self-paced short courses) delivered online and one Microcredential:

• Discover renewable manufacturing careers – a Microskill introducing the industries, technologies and practices enabling renewable manufacturing in Australia.
• Discover advanced manufacturing careers – a Microskill introducing advanced manufacturing and its role in driving innovation, sustainability, and economic growth in Australia.
• Maths foundations in the manufacturing industry – a Microskill supporting students and workers with mathematical concepts to perform accurate calculations and solve problems in a manufacturing setting.
• Generative design and analysis – a Microcredential providing specialised training in advanced computer-aided drafting software for manufacturing product design and modelling to solve real-world manufacturing challenges.
   

The four courses are the first of a series of short courses, education and training planned for delivery through the TAFE NSW Manufacturing Centres of Excellence this year.

To further support tertiary harmonisation, a University Partnership Panel has also been established to collaborate with the TAFE NSW Manufacturing Centres of Excellence on design and delivery of the specialised training.

10 university partners across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland have been included on the University Partnership Panel and will collaborate with TAFE NSW over the next four years to support expertise in manufacturing education.

This could include: contributing subject matter expertise to inform new manufacturing courses; providing access to specialist equipment and facilities; and development of educational pathways and higher education qualifications.

The 10 universities are:

• University of Sydney
• University of Technology, Sydney
• Western Sydney University
• Macquarie University
• University of Wollongong
• University of Newcastle
• Charles Sturt University
• Griffith University
• RMIT University
• Swinburne University.
   

Locally, the TAFE NSW Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence will also boost local capability, enabling the community to take advantage of the opportunities of renewable manufacturing and the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone.

The TAFE NSW Manufacturing Centres of Excellence are a joint initiative between the Australian Government and NSW Government under the National Skills Agreement.

“Free TAFE is changing lives and it is building Australia’s future,” said Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles. “The TAFE Centres of Excellence were established to be job-creating hubs, and this is more evidence that what we’re doing is working.

“More Free TAFE courses, means more Free TAFE students and more Free TAFE success stories. Through strong ongoing with industry and universities, TAFE is shaping the future of manufacturing education in Australia.”

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