Collie TAFE campus in Western Australia will receive $670,000 from the State Government to purchase a heavy vehicle simulator and automation training equipment.
The heavy vehicle driving simulator will equip students with simulated working conditions, allowing them to receive high quality training prior to driving large trucks on the road.
The new equipment at the Collie campus reportedly will support the delivery of the Heavy Vehicle Driving Operations Skill Set, adding more skilled workers to the essential transport industry to meet increased demand created by local infrastructure projects, including the Bunbury Outer Ring Road.
The news comes as part of the Western Australian Government’s $25 million election commitment to a four year program to upgrade and modernise TAFE equipment to contemporary industry standards – helping students, apprentices and trainees become more job-ready.
Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns welcomed the funding.
“Collie TAFE has gone from strength to strength in recent years, with major upgrades and new course offerings providing quality training for local people,” said Hanns.
“This brand new equipment will support the delivery of Collie TAFE’s heavy haulage driver training and process control training – providing real world skills to local students,” she said.
“Our focus on training in Collie is providing every opportunity for students, young and old, to secure quality, well-paid jobs in a range of industries.”
Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said the Government was continued to invest in training to give Western Australians access to industry standard facilities to help deliver a high quality education.
“Our low fee training has delivered strong results, with enrolments increasing significantly, putting more Western Australians on the pathway to quality local jobs,” he said in a statement.
“Providing TAFE students with state-of-the-art equipment complements our important work to grow a job-ready skilled workforce.
“The strength of the Western Australian economy makes these initiatives critical to ensuring industry has access to a skilled local workforce.”
The McGowan Government’s vaccine mandates in Western Australia, currently considered one of most widespread requirements in the nation, are likely to impact 75 per cent of the adult workforce including heavy vehicle drivers in an industry already suffering an operator shortage.