The Albanese and Minns Labor governments have joined forces to bolster Australia’s manufacturing workforce through the introduction of four new Free TAFE courses aimed at upskilling Australians and enhancing the nation’s onshore manufacturing capabilities.
Announced late last year, the new Free TAFE courses are being offered through the TAFE NSW Manufacturing Centres of Excellence, the NSW government said in a news release.
These Centres were established to support education and training in key manufacturing sectors, including engineering, transport, and renewable energy.
The initiative is part of a broader $78.6 million investment, matched by both the Commonwealth and NSW governments, bringing the total funding to $157.2 million over four years.
The Centres will be based in Newcastle/the Hunter, Western Sydney, and the Illawarra, areas with significant manufacturing activity.
The courses are tailored to meet the evolving needs of the manufacturing sector, with a focus on increasing onshore manufacturing capability and creating new career opportunities for local workers.
Enrolments are now open for three self-paced Microskills courses and one Microcredential, all designed in collaboration with industry experts.
The Microskills include “Discover Renewable Manufacturing Careers,” an introduction to industries and technologies that are shaping renewable manufacturing in Australia; “Discover Advanced Manufacturing Careers,” which highlights the role of advanced manufacturing in innovation and economic growth; and “Maths Foundations in the Manufacturing Industry,” a course designed to help students and workers strengthen their mathematical skills for practical manufacturing applications.
The Microcredential, “Generative Design and Analysis,” offers specialised training in advanced computer-aided drafting software for solving real-world manufacturing challenges.
Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles, emphasized the positive impact of Free TAFE courses, noting, “Free TAFE is changing lives and it is building Australia’s future. The TAFE Centres of Excellence were established to be job-creating hubs, and this is more evidence that what we’re doing is working.”
Giles also underscored the long-term vision, stating, “The Albanese and Minns Governments are ensuring manufacturing needs at a local, state and national level are backed by a pipeline of skilled workers and a strong economy for years to come.”
The TAFE NSW Centres of Excellence are also collaborating with a panel of 10 universities across New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland.
The University Partnership Panel aims to contribute subject matter expertise, specialist equipment, and educational pathways, ensuring a well-rounded approach to training and higher education qualifications in manufacturing.
The Centre of Excellence located in the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone is specifically designed to support local communities in renewable manufacturing. It will provide tailored, industry-aligned training that prepares the workforce for leadership roles in industries like resources, aviation, defence, and transport.
Minister for Skills, TAFE, and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan, highlighted the broader goals of the partnership: “These first four Fee-Free TAFE courses being delivered through the Centres of Excellence are just the beginning of the collaboration across TAFE NSW, universities, and the manufacturing industry to support a skilled workforce to meet national challenges across the manufacturing sector.”
Whan added, “This partnership will deliver more technical and hands-on training to students across renewable energy and advanced manufacturing, with a focus on sustainable and technological innovation.”
