SKILLSPOINTS TO BUILD TOMORROW’S WORKFORCE

New hands-on courses are being developed at TAFE NSW to better equip construction students entering the workforce during a time of record infrastructure investment across the State.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Minister responsible for TAFE NSW Adam Marshall and Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres today opened the Mount Druitt SkillsPoint that will work directly with business and industry to address the State’s skills needs.

“NSW is experiencing a once in a generation infrastructure boom as we deliver new rail, roads, schools and hospitals and we need more skilled workers to support this,” Ms Berejikilian said.

“By directly aligning TAFE NSW curriculum development and course delivery with industry needs through SkillsPoints we can ensure people can access the training they need.”

Mr Marshall said the NSW Government was getting on with the job of modernising TAFE NSW to support the State’s economy.

“The NSW Government has listened to what industry wants and has moved quickly to respond by modernising TAFE NSW to ensure we can continue to meet the State’s growing skills needs,” Mr Marshall said.

“Located at the heart of the State’s infrastructure boom in Western Sydney, the TAFE NSW Mount Druitt SkillsPoint will employ a core team of experts who will leverage the organisation’s state wide capabilities and new digital platforms.”

Mr Ayres said the move to make TAFE NSW work closely with industry is a great step forward that will arm students with the skills employers need.

“The NSW Government is determined to ensure the benefits of our record infrastructure investment extend well beyond the delivery of major projects by helping more people get the skills they need to get a job and build a career,” Mr Ayres said.

The opening of the Mount Druitt Skillspoint follows the opening of a similar facility in Newcastle and another seven are due to be up and running by mid-2018.