The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments are jointly investing more than $60 million over five years to establish the Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at TAFE NSW’s Tighes Hill campus in Newcastle.

Both the Albanese Government and Minns Labor Governments are investing $28.1 million, with a further $5.27 million in federal funding to support the centre.

This will accelerate the development of a Higher Apprenticeship model focused on the advanced skills required for net zero manufacturing.

The upgraded Centre will play a pivotal role in building up new skills for workers across the Hunter, investing in their future.

This will enable access to jobs in the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone, and delivering the skilled workforce required to support the renewable energy sector.

The Centre of Excellence will:

• Grow the workforce to support the renewable energy industry through technology-integrated learning, increasing access to training in regional and remote areas of northern NSW via mobile training units
• Establish a National Renewable Energy Microskills Marketplace, enabling TAFEs across Australia to share and access renewable industry-related digital non-accredited courses
• Implement a higher apprenticeship model, integrating vocational education and training (VET) and higher education by combining critical trade skills like electrotechnology, welding, and fabrication, with higher-level units in emerging areas such as digital technologies.

The Centre will also build on partnerships between TAFE NSW, universities and local industry to pilot qualification models that deliver a parity of status between VET and higher education. 

This follows the September announcement of the Western Sydney Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence and is the second of three TAFE NSW Manufacturing Centres of Excellence, boosting skills training in advanced manufacturing and rebuilding onshore manufacturing capabilities.

Increasing the number of apprentices – particularly in trades such as electrotechnology, engineering, manufacturing and mechatronics – is vital to ensure NSW and Australia have the skills to transition mining, energy and manufacturing industries to a clean energy economy.

This will help it meet the demand for net zero training to support decarbonising mining and manufacturing sectors as Australia transitions to net zero by 2050.

The Centre will also support both Government’s commitment to rebuilding our local manufacturing capacity, including delivering the skilled workforce required to build and maintain the NSW Tangara fleet locally.

The Albanese Government is investing $325 million under the five-year National Skills Agreement, which began on 1 January, to establish a network of up to 20 TAFE Centres of Excellence in areas of high skills needs.

These centres will help deliver a skilled workforce for strategically important industries to meet national challenges.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “Investing in a Future Made in Australia means investing in the skills and training industry will need in the years to come.

“The Hunter has a proud history of industry and manufacturing – which is why this is the perfect place for this Centre of Excellence.

“This builds on the skills that are already a part of this region’s DNA.”

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said, “We are getting on with the job of delivering three TAFE Centres of Excellence in NSW, a key part of our commitment to provide fully subsidised training to an additional 1,000 apprenticeships a year in advanced manufacturing and related industries. 

“The Hunter region is a powerhouse for energy and manufacturing and we are proud to partner with the Albanese Government to deliver this training centre so the local community and industry have the skills needed to benefit from the energy transition. 

“This is part of our plan to deliver affordable reliable energy and drive down emissions.”

Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles said, “The Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence is a great example of the Australian Government partnering with states to place TAFE at the heart of the VET sector.

“This Centre of Excellence in Net Zero Manufacturing will strengthen the VET system by providing high-quality and responsive skills training in the clean manufacturing economy.

“This will strengthen collaboration between universities and the VET sector. It will deliver the skills and knowledge our manufacturing labour market requires, as we accelerate our ambitions of Net Zero and a Future Made in Australia.

“I look forward to working with the NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan, as together we build a high-performing, more equitable and more dynamic VET sector, to skill Australians for the future.”

NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan said, “Skilled workers are critical to support NSW’s transition to net zero and clean energy and to boost our onshore manufacturing capabilities in resources, aviation, defence and transport. 

“The second of three TAFE NSW Manufacturing Centres of Excellence, the TAFE NSW Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence – Newcastle / Hunter will provide opportunities to upskill our workforce so they are able to take full advantage of the opportunities that renewable manufacturing provides.

“The Minns Government, like the Albanese Government – has a core focus on building more in Australia, from our energy transition right through to making sure we have the skills to build our next trains here in NSW. That’s what it’s all about.”