Govt, industry team up for Pilbara training

The state government will team up with Woodside Petroleum and Curtin University to develop two new specialist training facilities in the Pilbara as it encourages more people to live and work in the region.

The two facilities, worth a combined $18.1 million, will be built at Pilbara Institute campuses in Karratha and South Hedland.

Woodside will contribute to the construction and fitout of an Electrical and Instrumentation Centre of Specialisation in Karratha, as well as supplying support staff for the facility.

The centre will support training for electrical apprentices, higher-level courses for qualified electricians and career pathways for school leavers.

Construction will start at the facility next year and is expected to open in 2015.

Woodside chief operations officer Vince Santostefano said the centre would lift the capabilty of apprentices in the region, where it operates the North West Shelf and Pluto LNG projects.

"Woodside's strategy of 'growing our own' is central to attracting and retaining staff to live and work in Karratha, and our investment in this project is an important part of this approach" Mr Santostefano said. 

South Hedland will meanwhile be home to a Health and Allied Services Training Centre which will allow existing nursing programs to be expanded.

The government hopes the facility, which is being developed with support from Curtin University, will provide greater opportunities in health and nursing for Aboriginal people.

"As the Pilbara continues to expand and the need for skilled workers increases, the centres will provide high quality, up-to-date training opportunities previously only available outside the region," Training and Workforce Development Minister Terry Redman said.

The new facilities are funded through the Royalties for Regions program.