- Next stage of Rio Tinto and South Metropolitan TAFE training partnership begins
- Curriculum will be developed to help prepare workers for future jobs with Australia's first qualifications in automation
- A collaboration project will help ensure the Certificate II and Certificate IV courses are relevant more broadly across industry
A Western Australian vocational education and training (VET) alliance will be established to encourage input and involvement from the mining and resources industry in the development of Australia's first automation qualifications.
The WA VET Collaboration, chaired by industry leader Jim Walker, will inform curriculum development, education opportunities and strategies to build new skills and capabilities of the Western Australian workforce.
This industry input will result in Australia's first nationally accredited courses in automation with a Certificate II course primarily aimed at secondary students, and a Certificate IV course to support the jobs of the future.
This is the next step of a landmark partnership between South Metropolitan TAFE and Rio Tinto announced in October last year, with Rio Tinto contributing $2 million towards the new training program.
The program is expected to be delivered for the first time in 2019.
Comments attributed to Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery:
"Automation, technology and innovation will transform a range of industries and create new opportunities, and we need to be ahead of the curve to ensure our workforce can take advantage of that.
"Creating clear education and training pathways is key to maintaining our competitive advantage as a leader in automation technology.
"By partnering directly with industry, we can ensure the new curriculum futureproofs jobs by training Western Australians with the skills we know industry will need.
"This is a great example of industry working collaboratively with government to ensure our training sector creates a highly skilled workforce."
Comments attributed to Science Minister Dave Kelly:
"Research shows that 75 per cent of the fastest growing occupations in Australia require STEM skills.
"That is why as a priority, the McGowan Government is developing a State STEM strategy to lift the profile of STEM and to ensure every Western Australian has an equal opportunity to the jobs of the future.
"However, a 'STEM ready' WA workforce cannot be delivered by Government alone. That is why this initiative by Rio Tinto, working with TAFE, is so important."
Education and Training Minister's office - 6552 5700
Science Minister's office - 6552 6100
