NSW partnership builds skills and opportunities

A joint project of the Australian Government, the NSW Government’s Sydney Metro and TAFE NSW, three Infrastructure Skills Centres in Annandale, Nirimba and Ingleburn will enable expert and industry experienced teachers to train apprentices, trainees and a new generation of workers.

The NSW Government is investing $4.97 million of the total cost of approximately $6 million through TAFE NSW with a capital grant from the Australian Government of $950,000. This funding will enable a dedicated jobactive services provider to operate onsite, as well as secure equipment to support pre-employment training courses.

The Federal Minister for Employment, Senator Michaelia Cash, said the NSW Infrastructure Skills Centre will provide opportunities for people across Sydney to receive quality training on Sydney Metro, Australia’s biggest public transport project.

“Trainees will have the opportunity to receive vocational training, mentoring and post-placement support through the Infrastructure Skills Centre. This is great for economic growth, and will help to ensure we have people with the right skills set to meet growing infrastructure needs over time,” she said.

NSW Assistant Minister for Skills Adam Marshall said the network of three TAFE NSW campuses delivering specialist training centres would be Australia’s first one-stop infrastructure focused skills centre.

“The three Infrastructure Skills Centres will extend TAFE NSW’s training services to other infrastructure projects and large construction projects such as Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, Parramatta Square and the Western Sydney Stadium,” Mr Marshall said.

“NSW is experiencing a once in a generation infrastructure and jobs boom as we deliver the rail, roads, schools and hospitals our state needs.

“The NSW Government is determined to ensure the benefits of our record infrastructure investment extends well beyond the delivery of major projects by helping more workers learn new skills on the job.”

The NSW Infrastructure Skills Centre at Annandale was designed in conjunction with Sydney Metro to address skills and jobs requirements across the project.

A majority of Sydney Metro’s workforce will undertake accredited pre-commencement training at the centre, addressing critical skills gaps and support the transferability of skills to workers as well as encourage them pursue further learning.

Tailored pre-employment training will be available to a range of cohorts including young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse individuals and women working in non-traditional roles.

Fourteen Indigenous job seekers have already graduated from the Centre’s first pre-employment training course, with the majority having been interviewed for jobs on the Sydney Metro project. Many of the successful candidates will also commence training for a Certificate II in Civil Construction to further develop their skills.

Sydney Metro anticipates more than 500 entry-level employees will undertake training through the Infrastructure Skills Centre over five years.

TAFE NSW will also deliver training to more than 20,000 workers over the next five years through the Infrastructure Skills Centres supporting major construction projects, including Sydney Metro.

Job opportunities are expected to increase as other infrastructure projects, and employers, utilise the Skills Centre.