Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney has officially opened a new $3.2 million Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at Melbourne Polytechnic’s Heidelberg campus.
The $3.2 million Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence (AMCOE) will train future workers and upskill existing ones to promote innovation and North Melbourne’s increasingly technology-driven, value-added manufacturing industry.
In a media statement, the Victorian government said the hub will house the most advanced industry-grade robots, 3D printing, and computer design technology.
These will benefit a variety of industries, including biomedical, military, aerospace, and food technologies.
The new centre, in collaboration with Apprenticeships Victoria, will also promote engineering career choices to secondary students and increase hands-on training for entry-level engineers across the state.
Minister Tierney commented on the recent launch of the facility.
“We’re making sure Victorians can go to their local TAFE and get a great qualification for our state’s most in-demand jobs,” the minister said.
She added, “This centre is just one of the ways we are ensuring that we have the highly skilled, sustainable workforce needed to secure Victoria’s future prosperity.”
Meanwhile, Member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines, said the government is making local investments to ensure that every student has the training and skills necessary to fuel the future.
The government revealed it has invested $1.4 million in the project through Apprenticeships Victoria.
To date, more than 261,000 people are employed in manufacturing in Victoria, which also contributes about $31 billion to the state’s economy annually.
This centre will assist in addressing the Victorian Skills Plan-identified industry need for more engineering tradespeople, the government noted.
Furthermore, since 2014, the government has invested a record $3.5 billion to rebuild TAFE and support higher education, ensuring that Victorians have access to exciting career pathways and high-quality education.
