A $28 million National Security TAFE Centre of Excellence will be established at TAFE SA's Regency Campus to support upskilling of the state’s current and future technicians for AUKUS and preventing security threats and cybercrime.
The centre, jointly funded by the State and Federal Governments, will develop training programs focused on improving Australia’s national security and information security readiness across electrotechnology, electronics and engineering training, while supporting workforce development in emerging industries through partnerships with employers, unions, universities and research institutes.
Upskilling the state’s current and future technicians to make them job ready to work on AUKUS will be a key focus of the centre. This will include partnering with UK and US education institutes to transfer advanced technology training and developing new qualifications with industry relevant to Australia’s defence industry.
The state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence training facility will allow tradies and apprentices to get hands-on experience working on automated technologies, artificial intelligence, robotics, and virtual reality tools to prepare them for occupations such as electricians, engineering technicians, mechanical fitters, welders and boilermakers, with a focus on how these workforces safeguard critical infrastructure.
The centre will also train students and apprentices to address physical and digital threats to critical infrastructure and will support the defence, space, manufacturing, electronics, and energy and water industries.
This will include developing upskilling opportunities for tradies and apprentices on how to not fall victim to cyber criminals in an increasingly complex world, and how to prevent security threats when working on national security projects and infrastructure.
The Albanese and Malinauskas Governments are each investing $14 million to establish the National Security TAFE Centre of Excellence.
It is the 14th TAFE Centre of Excellence announced so far across Australia, and the second to be established in South Australia, following the Early Childhood Education and Care TAFE Centre of Excellence at TAFE SA’s Adelaide City Campus.
TAFE Centres of Excellence foster collaboration between TAFEs and key stakeholders to deliver high-quality and responsive training in critical and emerging industries such as clean energy, advanced manufacturing, early childhood education, and cyber security.
Pictured above is the Federal Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles, with the State Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Blair Boyer, and Member for Makin, Tony Zappia, at the announcement of the National Security TAFE Centre of Excellence.