Introducing new courses and ensuring businesses work together with Gunnedah TAFE is set to be a step towards addressing the town's skills shortage.
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Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce and TAFE NSW representatives met on Wednesday morning to discuss the Gunnedah TAFE upgrades over breakfast.
The Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery was packed to the brim with more than 40 business people in attendance. They were also introduced to the new chamber committee.
Attendees had the chance to ask questions about the Gunnedah TAFE upgrade and about new courses that could help their business grow.
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TAFE NSW's services co-ordinator Ashleigh Foster explained which buildings and areas of the TAFE campus would be upgraded, and the new courses that would be introduced.
She noted that Gunnedah would soon have an electro-technology course for the first time, and the popular boilermaker course would soon return, which would help bridge the skills gap.
"This will mean people don't need to travel to Tamworth for engineering and boilermaker courses," Ms Foster said.
Gunnedah chamber president Juliana McArthur said the presentation by TAFE was "very passionate".
"They're clearly willing to listen to what business needs to fill skills shortages ... and keep our young people in Gunnedah," Mrs McArthur said.
"Gunnedah is a great place to live and work and the more opportunities we have to provide education and training, the better off we'll be as a community."
All courses for 2020 are expected to be finalised by the end of October, it was announced at the event.
The Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce's committee now includes Mrs McArthur as president and Stacey McAllan as vice-president. Treena Daniells will stay on as treasurer for a third term, and Susan Frater-Sims comes in as the secretary.