Major TAFE upgrade underway for specialist trades in Albany

• $22.17 million upgrade commences at South Regional TAFE's Albany campus
• New trades workshop to deliver modern, industry-relevant training
• Investment will allow more people to study locally and train in specialist trades
  

A major upgrade is now underway at South Regional TAFE's Albany campus, bringing modern new training facilities to the Great Southern region.

The $22.17 million new trades workshops will be used to deliver training in traditional trades such as automotive, metals and engineering, and electrical and plumbing.

The state-of-the-art workshops will replace the ageing 50-year-old trade facilities and will provide a contemporary training setting in line with local industry needs.

The upgrades include construction of new specialist workshops for heavy and light auto, metals fabrication and electrical and plumbing, and new contemporary classroom spaces for students that will replicate on the job working environments.

The project also includes upgrades to the existing Skills Training Workshop, and a new classroom for training of working at heights and confined spaces.

After completion of the main trade workshop project, a separate project will be initiated to create a new carpentry and joinery workshop for the precinct. 

The new facilities will allow more young people and local jobseekers access to specialist trade training in the region, with student capacity expected to increase by approximately 20 per cent.

The project is being constructed by local builder Wauters Building Company, employing more than 200 workers throughout construction, including apprentices and trainees. Design was carried out by Albany architectural firm H+H Architects.

Construction is expected to be completed in mid-2024.

The McGowan Government is investing a record $215.8 million to upgrade essential infrastructure at TAFE campuses across Western Australia.

Comments attributed to Training Minister Simone McGurk:

"The major upgrade at South Regional TAFE's Albany campus is a huge gain for the Great Southern, with more people able to train locally in trades such as automotive, electrical and plumbing - so they can meet the needs of local industry now and in the future.

"This project is expected to boost student numbers at the campus by about 20 per cent, as well as providing jobs for local workers throughout construction.

"The McGowan Government has made a significant investment to modernise TAFE colleges across the State, ensuring all Western Australian TAFE students are training in modern, world-class facilities, no matter where they live."

Comments attributed to Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens:

"These state-of-the-art facilities will ensure students will have access to high-tech local training that will ensure they're job ready.

"The upgrades will also boost student capacity and enable them to stay right here in Albany to train and work.

"Better training opportunities are not only good for students, they're good for the whole region."

Minister's office - 6552 6600