Anthony Albanese
Prime Minister of Australia

Andrew Giles
Minister for Skills and Training

Chris Minns
Premier of NSW

Steve Whan
NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education

MEDIA RELEASE

HEAVY INDUSTRY MANUFACTURING CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN THE ILLAWARRA BACKS A FUTURE MADE IN AUSTRALIA

Tuesday, 3 December 2024

The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments are jointly investing more than $47 million to establish the Illawarra Heavy Industry Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at TAFE NSW Woolongong.

Students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment that cultivate the skills required to operate legacy equipment, enhancing efficiencies by using digital and robotic technologies, and advanced manufacturing techniques.

The Illawarra Heavy Industry Manufacturing Centre of Excellence will:

• provide targeted training in traditional and emerging heavy industry manufacturing for the defence and transport sectors
• integrate emerging technologies and automation into training, equipping students for work in digital, electrical and robotic manufacturing
• deliver microskills and microcredentials to upskill current workers

The Centre of Excellence will innovate training by piloting a new qualification model, the Associate Degree in Manufacturing and Applied Digital Technologies. The Degree Apprenticeship will provide a pathway between school, vocational education and training, and higher education.

Courses on offer include Engineering Mechanical Trade, Laboratory Skills and 3D Printing.

The Centre of Excellence is positioned to help progress the Albanese Government's Future Made in Australia plan, ensuring that we have the skills and infrastructure to make the materials we need to transition to net zero.

This follows the announcement of the Western Sydney Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence and the Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence, as the third TAFE NSW Manufacturing Centre of Excellence, boosting skills and training in advanced manufacturing and rebuilding onshore manufacturing capabilities. 

The Albanese Government is investing $325 million under the five-year National Skills Agreement, which began on 1 January 2024, to establish a network of up to 20 TAFE Centres of Excellence in areas of high skills needs.

Some courses will be available from 2025, while the refurbished site will be ready by 2027.

Quotes attributable to the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

"The Illawarra has a proud history of industry and manufacturing - which is why this is the perfect place for this Centre of Excellence.

"This builds on the skills that are already a part of this region's DNA.

"Investing in a Future Made in Australia means investing in the skills and training industry will need in the years to come."

Quotes attributable to the NSW Premier Chris Minns:

"Whether it's trains, buses or ferries, we want to build things here in NSW.

"The Illawarra is a powerhouse of manufacturing, and the TAFE NSW Centre of Excellence will build on these strengths, delivering more education and training so local workers are skilled in new technologies.

"The centre will create a pipeline of skilled workers so we have the mechanical and electrical engineers, machinists and metal welders needed to secure the region's future and support a thriving domestic advanced manufacturing industry in NSW."

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles:

"The Albanese Government is pitting TAFE at the heart of the vocational education and training sector. Implementing TAFE Centres of Excellence as a key initiative under the National Skills agreement will ensure we can deliver on this objective.

"The Illawarra Heavy Industry Manufacturing Centre of Excellence will work in partnership with the other manufacturing Centres of Excellence that we are establishing here in New South Wales. Creating a manufacturing powerhouse that will have a key role in supporting our transition to net zero, and harnessing the opportunities being created by our Future Made in Australia plan.

"It is exciting to see that the Heave Manufacturing Centre of Excellence is exploring new pathways that look to break down potential barriers between VET and higher education. As new skills needs emerge in our workforce, we need to keep exploring ways for greater harmonisation across our tertiary education sector.

"The Centres of Excellence are being established between the Australian, state and territory governments. Once the Centre is up and running it will operate in partnership to ensure we deliver a successful project. I look forward to continuing work with NSW Skills Minister Steve Whan to create a world-class VET sector."

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan:

"The TAFE NSW Heavy Industry Manufacturing Centre of Excellence - Illawarra will provide opportunities for local workers to reskill and upskill in areas most critical to a growing and evolving manufacturing sector, including new digital technologies such a robotics.

"Through the TAFE Centres of Excellence and in collaboration with industry and universities, the Australian and NSW Governments are ensuring local workers have the skills needed to support onshore manufacturing capabilities and access jobs in transport, logistics and supply chain, defence and renewables."