Unlocking opportunity: Blended training to transform security, electronics and telecommunications education

At the centre of this shift is a strategic move to bring security, electronics and telecommunications training streams together into a single, blended delivery model designed not only to streamline learning, but to better support a diverse student cohort.

Business Manager Ben Fenby said the initiative began with a simple but powerful realisation.

“We were delivering the same units across three separate training packages at the same time, so bringing the security, electronics and telecommunications teams together into a merged, blended delivery made complete sense,” Mr Fenby said.

But the transition is about much more than operational efficiency. It reflects a growing need to remove barriers for students, particularly those studying from outside metro areas.

“About 61 per cent of our students are based in regional, remote or interstate locations,” he said. “With cost-of-living pressures front of mind, we wanted to make it easier and more affordable for them to access training without compromising quality.”

The new approach will be introduced to align with the Queensland Government Next Gen Initiative, with full delivery scheduled to begin in January 2027. Students will benefit from purpose-built learning environments in Eagle Farm’s new ‘N’ Block, fitted with 11 monitors to support interactive and connected training.

To ensure a smooth rollout, a pilot program will launch in Term 4 this year, starting in September. An increase from 14 to 28 students will take part in the trial to ensure they are completed in designated timeframes that suit employer and operational needs. They’ll experience a unique setup where they remain on-site while teachers deliver lessons remotely from another block on campus using Zoom-enabled classrooms.

“The pilot gives us an opportunity to test the model in real time,” Mr Fenby said. “Teachers will be working from dedicated spaces equipped with the same technology, which allows us to refine how we deliver engaging, high-quality training in a blended format.”

Looking ahead, the success of the program is expected to unlock further opportunities across other trades, with locksmithing next in line for transformation.

“Locksmithing is an area we’re targeting for blended delivery from 2028,” Mr Fenby said. “It’s a natural progression once we’ve embedded the model successfully within the security, electronic and telecommunications teams.”

The timing also aligns with rising industry demand, particularly as Queensland gears up for major infrastructure developments ahead of the Olympic Games.

“With the construction of Olympic Villages and other facilities, there’ll be significant demand for new security, electronic, telecommunications and lock systems and solutions,” Mr Fenby said. “That creates real employment opportunities for our graduates, especially in areas focused on privacy and advanced access systems.”

By unlocking new ways of learning and blending technology with practical training, TAFE Queensland is ensuring students are not only job-ready, but future-ready.