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TAFE Centres of Excellence at TAFE Queensland
As a leader in VET, TAFE Queensland is spearheading two national TAFE Centres of Excellence to strengthen Australia's workforce.
TAFE Queensland will advance skills development in high priority industries, chosen to lead the TAFE Centre of Excellence Health Care and Support and the TAFE Centre of Excellence Clean Energy Batteries.
Jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments, TAFE Queensland will collaborate with various national clean energy and health partners to develop innovative and industry-relevant vocational education and training (VET) opportunities to produce a pipeline of skilled workers.
TAFE Centre of Excellence Health Care and Support Executive Director Robyn Littlejohn said the $35 million Centre will address challenges and promote opportunities related to the delivery of training and skills in health, nursing and community services, with a particular focus on aged care, disability and mental health.
"Health care and social assistance is Australia’s largest employing industry and, in the last year, the number of workers grew by over 86,000," Ms Littlejohn said.
"Strong future job growth in this sector will continue, highlighting the need for quality and accessible training to ensure skill demands are met."
"The TAFE Centre of Excellence Health Care and Support aims to tackle national challenges related to rural, regional and remote training delivery, address skills gaps among current workers, meet place-based workforce needs, and ensure training is industry relevant and culturally appropriate."
TAFE Centre of Excellence Clean Energy Batteries Executive Director Shawn O'Sullivan said the $20 million Centre will support the growth of current and emerging battery technologies and Australia's transformation to a net zero economy.
"This TAFE Centre of Excellence will deliver targeted training solutions to meet current and emerging skill needs in renewable energy storage, grid connectivity, network embedded storage at large and small scales, and electric vehicles," Mr O'Sullivan said.
"Australia is advancing towards a renewable energy future and, in Queensland alone, the energy transformation is expected to support around 100,000 jobs by 2040, creating strong prospects for workers seeking job security."
"The TAFE Centre of Excellence Clean Energy Batteries will drive the development of national standards in clean energy battery technology training by investigating innovative learning opportunities, like higher-level pathways, to meet current and emerging skill needs."
The TAFE Centres of Excellence emphasise a national perspective on training and skills development, fostering increased collaboration and partnerships between TAFEs, industries, employers, unions, universities and other stakeholders.
Rather than being a single piece of infrastructure or confined to a specific campus, the TAFE Centre of Excellence Health Care and Support and the TAFE Centre of Excellence Clean Energy Batteries represent a national network of partnerships, products, activities, research and deliverables aimed at addressing training and workforce needs.
Through the National Skills Agreement, the Australian Government is investing up to $325 million over five years, with matched funding from states and territories, to establish nationally networked TAFE Centres of Excellence.