Collie TAFE in WA will receive $670,000 in government funding to purchase its own heavy vehicle simulator, as part of a new $25 million funding initiative to help get people into industries with high demand.
The new simulator is part of the WA Government’s $25 million investment in new equipment for the state’s five TAFEs. The four-year funding program aims to allow TAFEs upgrade and modernise their equipment to contemporary industry standards.
TAFE colleges identified areas of need based on local demand and emerging industry training needs.
With the widely publicised driver shortage, particularly in WA, it’s hoped that the new simulator will help to train more students and create a pipeline of job-ready drivers.
The simulator offers simulated working conditions for students before they get out on the road. “This brand new equipment will support the delivery of Collie TAFE’s heavy haulage driver training and process control training – providing real world skills to local students,” said Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns.
The new equipment at Collie campus will also support the delivery of the Heavy Vehicle Driving Operations Skill Set, adding more skilled workers to the transport industry to meet increased demand created by local infrastructure projects, including the Bunbury Outer Ring Road.
Other funding highlights of Stage 1 include:
- $300,000 common rail diesel trainer for rail operations at North Metropolitan TAFE’s Midland campus and $593,000 for electromechanical training systems across the Balga, Clarkson and Midland campuses;
- $1.4 million to install large high-tech spray painting booths for panel beating at South Metropolitan TAFE’s Carlisle campus;
- $2 million for heavy plant equipment across Central Regional TAFE’s Geraldton and Kalgoorlie campuses; and
- $178,000 for nursing equipment at North Regional TAFE’s Pundulmurra campus and $1.4 million for hydrogen and renewable energy equipment at the Karratha campus.
“As part of our work to revitalise the TAFE sector, we continue to invest significantly in training to give Western Australians access to industry standard facilities to help deliver a high quality education,” said Premier Mark McGowan.
“Providing TAFE students with state-of-the-art equipment complements our important work to grow a job-ready skilled workforce.”