Engineering, horticulture, early childhood education and care, and civil construction are among the 11 new courses on offer at TAFE NSW Gunnedah next year.
Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson announced this morning that would bring the number of courses to 32 for semester 1 of 2019.
He said the new offerings were “incredibly exciting” and would help meet the needs of the town.
“Local Gunnedah businesses and key stakeholders have identified a number of areas where the training offered at TAFE NSW didn’t quite fulfil the needs of the community,” he said.
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“I have worked closely with TAFE NSW to identify these gaps and come up with an extensive course offering plan that everyone will be happy with.”
Mr Anderson said one of the highlights was a certificate III in engineering (fabrication trade).
“Because of an increase in apprentices requiring engineering training in the region, this course will be delivered in Gunnedah by TAFE NSW for the first time since 2011.”
Gunnedah shire mayor Jamie Chaffey said the council welcomed the news that some apprenticeship courses would be reinstated.
That and the redevelopment of TAFE facilities are on the council’s priority list ahead of the state elections.
Cr Chaffey said the council and Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce and Industry had been advocating strongly for apprenticeship courses to be returned.
“As a growing community with many job vacancies for skilled trades, ensuring that we have the ability to retain and train our young people is critical to serving Gunnedah’s future economic growth,” Cr Chaffey said.
However, he said, there was still “a long way to go before TAFE services are at the required level”.
“Gunnedah is going ahead in leaps and bounds, and it is important for the state government to continue work to prioritise the allocation of TAFE resources to Gunnedah, to support that growth.”
The 11 new courses are:
- Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
- Certificate I in Preparation for Work and Training
- Certificate I in Access to Vocational Pathways
- Certificate II in Horticulture
- Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations
- Statement of Attainment in Work Safely at Heights (Resource and Infrastructure)*
- Statement of Attainment in Enter and Work in Confined Spaces*
- Certificate II in Resources and Infrastructure Preparation*
- Statement of Attainment in Front End Loader and Excavator*
- Statement of Attainment in Skid Steer and Excavator*
- Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade
