Apprentices and school-based trainees are now learning in two state-of-the-art trades workshops at North Regional TAFE's Pundulmurra campus, thanks to the State Government's total $48.9 million investment in upgrading training facilities in the region.
In a major boost to trades training in the Pilbara region, the new workshops will help to train local skilled workers in heavy automotive, heavy mobile and fixed plant, and engineering trades to support the resources sector, the region's largest employer.
Designed by MPS Architects and constructed by Decmil Group, the new trades workshops include classrooms and specialist training areas.
Students using the new workshops are also set to benefit from training on modern, industry-standard equipment as well as existing equipment relocated from the decommissioned South Hedland annex, enabling them to be job-ready.
Part of the State Government's Rebuilding our TAFEs plan, the $43.2 million Pundulmurra Trades Expansion project also includes the construction of a new hospitality training block, which will feature a commercial cookery training kitchen and flexible training areas. The hospitality facility is expected to be completed mid-year, with students set to commence training in Semester Two 2024.
In addition to the new trades workshops and hospitality block, the campus has also benefited from the construction of a new $1.1 million horticulture workshop completed in 2022, and $4.6 million in upgrades to the light automotive and automotive electrical training facilities, which were completed in 2023.
The Pundulmurra Trades Expansion is a key regional project, which forms part of the largest TAFE capital works program in Western Australia's history, with the State Government investing $243.3 million in upgrades to essential infrastructure at TAFE colleges across the State.