The Albanese Labor Government is continuing to support the growth of TAFE in regional Western Australia, investing $1.1 million to upgrade facilities at North Regional TAFE's Pundulmurra campus.
The funding will be used to purchase new specialist equipment for the Health Simulation Ward at the South Hedland campus and establish a state-of-the-art Renal Simulation Ward.
This specialist training facility will enable local health providers to respond to the high demand for renal health services in the Pilbara region, particularly for local Aboriginal communities.
This investment is critical to the training of health care workers, including registered nurses, enrolled nurses and Aboriginal health care workers in renal replacement therapy in industry relevant simulated training spaces.
The Albanese Government's $50 million TAFE Technology Fund is upgrading and expanding TAFE facilities across the country, including laboratories, workshops, equipment and simulated learning environments.
Other TAFE Technology Fund investments in WA include :
- $3.24 million to North Metropolitan TAFE Midland campus for a training centre to teach workers in the installation, maintenance and repair of wind turbines.
- $2 million to South Metropolitan TAFE Bentley campus for a state-of-the-art commercial cookery kitchen and industry relevant training equipment
- $3 million to Ellenbrook Secondary College for a trade training centre, including a commercial kitchen, training café and trade amenities for bricklaying and plumbing.
This latest investment builds on opportunities created through the Albanese Government's Fee-Free TAFE initiative, which removed financial barriers to enrolment for over 355,000 Australians in 2023.
Nearly 34,000 West Australians enrolled in Fee-Free TAFE last year, including almost 6,500 in regional and remote areas.
The Albanese Government is investing $502.9 million for an additional 320,000 Fee-Free TAFE and VET places nationwide over the next three years.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O'Connor:
"This investment at Pundulmurra will improve training facilities for health care workers in regional Western Australia and contribute to Closing the Gap in health care for First Nations people.
"The Albanese Government is committed to supporting West Australians to access high-quality vocational education and training, especially as technology changes.
"Our $50 million TAFE Technology Fund helps ensure TAFEs, including those in regional areas, are equipped to deliver training to the standards expected by students and the community."
Quotes attributable to WA Minister for Training and Workforce Development Simone McGurk:
"These upgrades will give students in the Pilbara the opportunity to learn using the latest equipment, ensuring they are job-ready when they finish their training, and able to make a real difference in their communities.
"The equipment will benefit not only health care students, but also First Nations people and the wider community, and I thank the Albanese Government for this important investment in regional Western Australia."
