South-west students to benefit from renewables launch

As one of the project partners for the $50 million centre, South West TAFE will have local access to training opportunities for Australia’s renewable energy future jobs. 

From the centre in Morwell, training will be delivered across Australia’s TAFE network in renewable energy technologies, including smart grids and networks, and home electrification services, supported by a consortium including South West TAFE, Holmesglen Institute and Federation University.

South West TAFE Director of Strategy, Research & Clean Economy Innovations, Dr John Flett, said the centre would create opportunities across the state, including the south-west.

“We have been working with TAFE Gippsland on a range of different projects for several years in the clean energy and renewables space,” he said. “This new centre will improve Gippsland’s capability to develop and deliver renewable energy courses and any courses they develop will get shared with the rest of the TAFE network.”

Dr Flett expects the first courses to be shared will be for electricians to engage customers around their home electrification needs; and an Energy Data Analytics and Visualisation microcredential designed to bridge the growing digital-technical skills gap between the clean energy initiatives and the countries electrification workforce.

“We have partnered with TAFE Gippsland in preparing for off-shore wind construction and training,

There will be an opportunity for us to use the training developed in Gippsland if and when we get our own off-shore project up and running.”

South West TAFE is currently redeveloping a formal course for the Victorian TAFE sector to train electricians to install electric vehicle chargers in people’s homes.

South West TAFE CEO Mark Fidge attended the launch in Morwell which will be the anchor point for the Victorian Renewable Energy TAFE Centre of Excellence, leveraging industry connections and equipping the local workforce with the skills needed for a low-carbon future and the opportunities of Australia’s renewable energy future.

The Albanese and Allan Governments launched the Victorian Renewable Energy TAFE Centre of Excellence at TAFE Gippsland’s Morwell campus last week.

This is the 18th TAFE Centre of Excellence announced by the Albanese Government since the commencement of the National Skills Agreement in 2024.