Skills training opportunities grow with Great Southern TAFE upgrade

26/7/07
Primary industries and trades training is expected to grow in the Great Southern, with $2.85million injected into training facilities and tools in Albany.
Education and Training Minister Mark McGowan today officially opened the new $2.3million Great Southern TAFE Horticulture and Conservation Land Management Centre in Albany.
Mr McGowan said the centre was established in response to growing demand for skilled workers in horticulture, agriculture and land management industries.

"As well as conventional classrooms, the centre is well-equipped for practical learning with purpose-built farm sheds for specialised agricultural training and housing of farming vehicles," he said.
"It also features hot houses for training horticulture students in potting, mixing, sterilising, reticulation control and quarantine management, with the flexibility to vary the shade and climate conditions for particular plants and products.
"I am especially impressed with the sustainable management of the centre, where resources are used to their full potential and waste is minimised.
"For example, excess seedlings produced by students are offered to local nurseries, and the land management students are involved in technologies and training for the conservation of water and other natural resources."
The centre was jointly funded by the State and Commonwealth Governments.
The Minister said that in addition to the centre, the State Government was spending $550,000 on equipment for traditional trades training at the Albany campus, with the new items expected to be delivered in early 2008.
Albany MLA Peter Watson welcomed the news and said the new equipment would be used for training in building and construction, carpentry and joinery, and automotive trades.
"This includes a new mobile trades training unit to take skills training around the region, and a range of other contemporary industry tools including welders, a brake lathe, oil separator, laser levels and guillotine," Mr Watson said.
"This significant investment will benefit Great Southern TAFE's 249 current students in the traditional trades, as well as local secondary students from the School Apprenticeship Link program and future students.
"The new facilities and equipment will reinforce Great Southern TAFE's reputation as a first-class training provider."
Mr Watson said Great Southern TAFE was also leading the way in assessment with its 'Beyond the Black Stump' program.
"Through the program, lecturers are using technology to cut down on paperwork and make training and assessment more flexible for students," he said.
"Lecturers visit apprentices and trainees on the job and record assessments of their skills using PDAs (personal digital assistants).
"In addition, Great Southern TAFE students who work on sites in Esperance and Ravensthorpe are using digital cameras, memory sticks and mobile phones to record evidence of their skills at work which they email to lecturers.
"This initiative is helping Great Southern TAFE students and staff overcome the tyranny of distance through flexible training and assessment."
Mr McGowan said the State Government was committed to transforming the training system to make it more responsive, flexible and efficient.
"We are also committed to addressing the skill shortages in Western Australia, which is why, since February 2005, the Government has invested a record additional $190million in this area," he said.
Minister's office - 9222 9111