Tuesday, 28 February 2023

• Construction begins on $20.4 million specialist light automotive training centre at North Metropolitan TAFE's Joondalup campus
• New state-of-the-art facilities will provide students with access to innovative, industry-relevant training
• Project is the largest TAFE capital works program
  

Works have commenced on the $20.4 million upgrade of North Metropolitan TAFE Joondalup, bringing light automotive training facilities to the northern suburbs.

Premier Mark McGowan and Training Minister Simone McGurk visited the Kendrew Crescent campus today to check on the progress of the new facilities.

The project involves construction of a two-storey light automotive centre, which will be used to deliver high-tech training in new and emerging auto technologies, including electric vehicles.

The building will also house specialist training facilities for technological innovations in the horticulture industry. This will fit alongside the new horticulture workshop completed in 2021.

The new training centre will provide purpose-built spaces for the rapidly changing automotive industry to meet future industry training needs. Students will learn using cutting-edge technology, including car hoists, compressed air reticulation and exhaust fume extraction. The facilities also include laboratories for diagnostics as well as technical and collision-avoidance technology.

New computer training rooms, a robotics laboratory, office space and a conference room will be located on the centre's upper level, along with an environmental biodiversity laboratory to support the use of drones and precision irrigation in horticulture.

Construction is being carried out by McCorkell Constructions WA, employing more than 55 workers including apprentices and trainees throughout the project.

Students are expected to be training in the new centre during Semester 2, 2024.

Designed by Hunt Architects, the project is one of 14 major capital works projects taking place at TAFE colleges across the State, as part of the McGowan Government's $215.8 million investment in upgrading essential TAFE infrastructure.

Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:

"With light automotive training facilities already established at TAFE colleges in Carlisle, Kwinana and Midland, the new state-of-the-art facilities will bring training for this essential trade to the northern suburbs.

"This investment in WA's workforce supports the development of skills needed for emerging technologies in new vehicles such as automation, collision avoidance and electrification.

"The major upgrades to the Joondalup campus are part of the largest TAFE capital works program in WA history and providing modern facilities to help develop the workforce of the future continues to be a key priority for my Government."

Comments attributed to Training Minister Simone McGurk:

"Technology is changing fast, and it's vital students have access to the most cutting-edge facilities so that when they complete their course they can hit the ground running.

"We want to remove as many barriers to training and upskilling as possible and that's why it's so important to bring this light automotive centre to the heart of the northern suburbs, close to where people live and work.

"With a growing population in the northern suburbs and high demand for skilled automotive workers, this investment will set local residents up for local jobs."

Comments attributed to Joondalup MLA Emily Hamilton:

"I'm thrilled that students will soon be able to study at the first light automotive training centre in our northern suburbs

"The light automotive centre will build on Joondalup's reputation as a centre for innovation in WA. This new facility will equip our kids for the jobs of the future in emerging technology, including drones, right here in Joondalup."