Young Western Australians who want to be part of the METRONET building program will benefit from the McGowan Government's reduction in TAFE fees.
From next year, the Midland TAFE campus will become a speciality METRONET Trade Training Centre, with upgraded workshops and new fabrication training equipment.
Under the plan, the TAFE and its workshops are being redeveloped into a specialist centre that provides the specific technical and support skills required for railcar manufacturing and METRONET maintenance.
Local students will benefit from the 50 per cent reduction in fees for important METRONET TAFE courses, as part of the $53.5 million 'lower fees, local skills' policy that will half TAFE fees for 34 high priority courses.
METRONET courses that will benefit from the McGowan Government's reduction in TAFE fees include:
- Certificate II in Civil Construction;
- Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations; and
- Certificate III in Civil Construction.
The METRONET Trade Training Centre is being established at North Metropolitan TAFE's Midland campus, three kilometres from the site of the new METRONET Bellevue Assembly Facility where the new C-Series railcars will be commissioned.
The METRONET 'Train of Thought' forum was held yesterday (October 14), bringing together industry stakeholders including railcar manufacturers, government and training industry representatives to discuss ways to ensure the training centre meets the industry's short and long-term requirements.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"METRONET is creating a pipeline of jobs and my Government wants to make sure young Western Australians have the skills they need to capitalise on this huge investment.
"Our 50 per cent reduction in course fees for important METRONET courses will make TAFE much more affordable for students in these in-demand courses.
"Not only will METRONET create a world-class public transport system that will transform our city, it will also deliver employment and training opportunities for locals long into the future."
As stated by Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery:
"As a Government, we are doing everything we can to make TAFE more accessible to young Western Australians so they can get the skills they need to enter the workforce.
"Midland TAFE will provide world-class training to meet the demand of our METRONET program in courses including engineering, metal fabrication, instrumentation and electrotechnology.
"We will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure the training needs of our METRONET rail projects are met."
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"The METRONET Trade Training Centre is part of a new hub of railcar manufacturing in Midland, which will allow us to deliver on our commitment to build at least 50 per cent of all METRONET railcars locally in WA.
"The McGowan Government is currently finalising its biggest-ever order of railcars, which will be built at a new facility nearby in Bellevue.
"This training facility means young Western Australians can gain the skills close to where jobs will be required for the construction of our next fleet of trains.
"Tenders recently opened for the contract to build the METRONET Bellevue railcar depot where METRONET's railcars will be built and maintained for years to come."
