TAFE Gippsland campuses charging up for EV training
TAFE Gippsland campuses are charged and ready in rolling out electric vehicle training for automotive apprentices, following the completion of a project seeing five campuses sharing in new EV training equipment.
Bairnsdale, Leongatha, Sale, Warragul and Yallourn campuses of TAFE Gippsland benefitted from a $960,000 project that received funding through the Albanese Government’s $50 million TAFE Technology Fund.
The Yallourn campus was visited today by Federal Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles, to see firsthand how the new training equipment is supporting Gippslanders to get the skills they want for good, secure jobs.
Specialist EV training equipment has been installed at the campuses, while EV and hybrid vehicles have also been purchased to enable apprentices to get training that matches the real-world skills they’ll need.
Under the Fund, the Albanese Government has invested $8.61 million to deliver six infrastructure projects upgrading and expanding TAFE facilities across Victoria.
The investment sits alongside Free TAFE, which the Albanese and Allan Governments are delivering to ensure more Victorians have the opportunity to skill and upskill in critical industries like care, construction, early childhood education and agriculture, with more than 37,000 Free TAFE enrolments in regional Victoria since 2023.
Apprentices in Victoria are also benefitting from the Albanese Government’s Key Apprenticeship Program offering new apprentices in housing construction or clean energy industries $10,000 in incentive payments to support them over the course of their apprenticeship, while their employer receives a $5,000 incentive.
In Victoria 5,795 apprentice commencements have occurred under the clean energy stream, boosting the pipeline of skilled workers in solar, smart technology and automotive industries, while 6,340 apprentice commencements have occurred through the housing construction stream, with carpentry, plumbing and electrical industries proving the most popular.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles:
“It’s great to see how this funding has delivered new opportunities for Gippslanders – backing in modern, state of the art training for those looking to get their start in the growing EV automotive industry.
“The training equipment and vehicles we’ve delivered through the TAFE Tech Fund sits alongside the Free TAFE courses we’re rolling out, and the support our Government is delivering apprentices and their employers through the Key Apprenticeship Program.
“For Gippslanders out there looking for a career that will be interesting, offer good pay and long-term job security, have a look at automotive and the training you can benefit from across Gippsland TAFE’s campuses.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Labor Senator for Victoria, Raff Ciccone:
“Gippsland is at the forefront of the new opportunities we’re seeing in the automotive industry because of EVs.
“With more Victorians getting behind the wheel of EVs and hybrid vehicles, the demand for specialist skills will only grow – as will the opportunities for Gippslanders to play their part in driving this industry forward.
“The Gippsland community can get great training while staying close to home by making the most of the new EV training equipment across Bairnsdale, Leongatha, Port of Sale, Warragul and Yallourn TAFE campuses.”
ENDS