New facilities at Kimberley TAFE boost employment opportunities for students

27/6/07
Kimberley TAFE's Broome campus now has a host of new facilities, which will give students cutting-edge skills so they are ready to enter the workforce.
Opening the new facilities today, Education and Training Minister Mark McGowan said the $6million redevelopment and expansion would support the increasing demand in the region for training in traditional trades, tourism, hospitality, and the creative and cultural industries.
"Kimberley TAFE's enhanced capacity to deliver training will have an enduring impact on regional skill shortages," Mr McGowan said.
"The upgraded and expanded trade workshops will provide vital training programs and new job opportunities for local residents in the areas of building and construction, automotive, engineering and industrial skills.
"Availability of more skilled workers will benefit the local economy and its employers and provide the workers needed to address social issues such as improving the affordability of housing for local residents."
Kimberley MLA Carol Martin said many other local industries would also benefit from Kimberley TAFE's new facilities.
"In addition to a new algae laboratory and music studio, there is a business practice firm so students can develop essential skills in customer service," Mrs Martin said.
"There is also a new Learning Resource Centre with state-of-the-art video conferencing equipment to support increased training demands in indigenous communities, as well as enable better communication between lecturers and students in remote locations."
The new training infrastructure has doubled Kimberley TAFE's training capacity and will enable the college to forge ahead to double its student numbers to 6,000 full and part-time students by 2010.
The Minister said the college played a vital role in strengthening the prosperity of the region and continued to support the economic and social aspirations of local indigenous communities.
Minister's office - 9222 9111