TAFE NSW has partnered with the Naval Shipbuilding College to support more people looking to secure careers in the rapidly expanding naval shipbuilding, supply and sustainment industries.
TAFE NSW is the first organisation in the state to pursue course endorsement from the Naval Shipbuilding College. Students who successfully complete the Certificate III in Engineering-Fabrication Trade (welding component) will now be acknowledged by the naval shipbuilding industry as being ‘job ready.’
TAFE NSW also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Naval Shipbuilding College at Garden Island, in front of Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Dr Geoff Lee and NSW Defence Advocate Air Marshal (Ret) John Harvey.
Naval Shipbuilding College Program Director Bill Docalovich said the agreement will boost collaboration to develop a national shipbuilding education and training competency framework.
“This is great news for NSW students who will undertake training that directly aligns with the future needs of the growing naval shipbuilding industry,” Docalovich said. “This is a significant step towards strengthening the naval shipbuilding workforce in NSW, while also supporting the hundreds of supply chain and sustainment businesses.
“We need people from NSW to step up and fill some of the 15,000 skilled and professional jobs to build and sustain our future fleet, including the technologically advanced Attack class submarines, Hunter class frigates and Arafura class Offshore Patrol Vessels.”
Dr Lee said that he was proud that TAFE NSW was the first organisation in the state to pursue course endorsement from the Naval Shipbuilding College, firming its reputation as a world-class vocational education and training provider.
“TAFE NSW is working collaboratively with industry to provide students with the high quality, practical training they need to be job-ready,” Dr Lee said. “We’re proud to be partnering with the Naval Shipbuilding College to help deliver the skilled naval shipbuilding workforce Australia needs now and into the future.”
The government established the Naval Shipbuilding College to secure a sovereign workforce to implement its $90 billion continuous shipbuilding program. A national Workforce Register has been established for potential candidates interested in being involved in the shipbuilding, supply and sustainment industries.