General News
23 November, 2024
Engineering space to breed local apprentices
Federation TAFE's Wimmera campus is now the home of a new engineering facility, allowing regional students to have access to state of the art equipment and technology.
The Victorian Government has invested $2.6 million into the facilities, which includes an engineering workshop and learning spaces that have industry-standard tools and equipment where apprentices can now study their Certificate III Engineering - Fabrication Trade locally.
The space has a capacity to accommodate up to 15 students at a time.
Pro Vice-Chancellor VET University Pathways and Chief Executive TAFE Federation University of Australia Darren Gray said they are "absolutely delighted" with the new facility.
"Being able to learn local is important to support local economic development, particularly in the manufacturing sector and agriculture sector, which we know is so important for the region," Mr Gray said.
"We attract students from across the west of the state and having something that's central is really important."
Foreman of Smallaire Robbie Fischer said they currently have five apprentices going through the TAFE program.
"It's an amazing facility for them to be able to use," he said.
Acting CEO of the Office of TAFE Coordination and Delivery, Grant Radford attended the offical opening on behalf of the Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney.
"Talking with the local employees here, this is exactly the same equipment they've got, so it's really important they can have them trained here, as opposed to having to go in the workplace," he said.
"In the Wimmera, the engineering fabrication skills are in high demand due to the growing needs of the local engineering sector."
"Having industry standard learning facilities here in Horsham means that more people can study engineering fabrication on site at TAFE and complete the apprenticeships closer to home," he said.