$8m for TAFE

TAFE facilities across Western Australia are set to receive more than $8 million as part of a joint funding initiative by the state and federal governments.

Announcing the news earlier this morning, the state government confirmed it would invest in upgrades to vocational education infrastructure that would help meet industry expectations, improve training delivery and address skills shortages.

Those projects include works associated with a Metronet trade training centre in Midland, a new NDIS simulated training space in Mount Lawley and an agricultural machinery trade workshop in Moora.

Education Minister Sue Ellery said the state government was doing everything it could to make TAFE more accessible to Western Australians.

“TAFE is essential to skilling, reskilling and upskilling Western Australians and this funding recognises the important role it plays in delivering the skills the training industry needs and our state’s economic recovery,” she said.

Federal Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Minister Michaelia Cash said vocational education and training would play a critical role in the nation’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This agreement will further support our recovery, by creating a pipeline of jobs through investment in infrastructure projects and support of vital industries,” Ms Cash said.

Elsewhere, Peter Hunt Architect was today appointed to design an $18 million light auto trades training workshop at North Metropolitan TAFE.

That upgrade was previously announced in July as part of the state government’s COVID-19 recovery plan.

Construction of the project is set to begin in November of next year.