Fee-Free TAFE for Queensland mechanics

The Australian and Queensland Governments announced a landmark funding initiative on December 12 2022 which will support 37,000 TAFE places for Queensland in 2023. The announcement was made by Federal Minister for Skills and Training, the Honourable Brendan O’Connor, and Queensland Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development, the Honourable Di Farmer, at TAFE Queensland’s Alexandra Hills campus.

As motorists across Queensland and the world make the shift towards Electric Vehicles (EVs), Queensland’s automotive industry is preparing for an influx of EV servicing, and experienced local technicians are now able complete the new Battery Electric Vehicle Inspection and Servicing Skill Set (AURSS00064) at no cost under the Fee-Free TAFE initiative.

TAFE Queensland Emerging Industries Business Development Manager Shawn O’Sullivan said TAFE Queensland had worked hard to develop critical training to support the local automotive industry’s transition to EV work as ownership of these vehicles continues to increase across the state.

“EV and Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEV) training are a focus for TAFE Queensland as the state moves towards greater ownership of these vehicles. Rystad Energy predicts Battery Electric Vehicles will make up 50 per cent of car sales worldwide by 2033 and will account for almost every new car sold by 2050, and we are delivering local technicians the training they need to prepare for this increase,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“TAFE Queensland is training automotive students in the skills needed to work on the vehicles of today and of the future. This training is being carried out in line with the Queensland Government’s Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy 2022-2032, helping to achieve the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.”

“There is a need for perpetual innovation in the training industry, especially for the automotive sector, and TAFE Queensland prides itself on working closely with industry to shape our training products and ensure we are providing forward-thinking training options.”

“Upskilling local technicians in these skills as part of the Fee-Free TAFE funding is a huge bonus for Queensland, and graduates of this Skillset will be closer to becoming workplace supervisors of apprentices in the in-development EV apprenticeship course,” he said.

Technicians who take up the offer of free EV skill training with TAFE Queensland can expect to hone their new skills in a world-class training environment, with TAFE Queensland hosting a range of facilities, equipment and vehicles used for training automotive students.

Prominent global manufacturers such as Toyota, Lexus, Nissan, and more make frequent vehicle donations to the state’s largest training provider to ensure TAFE Queensland’s students carry out their training on industry-current vehicles.