New TAFE facilities at Kingscliff

TWO new purpose-built TAFE NSW Kingscliff facilities are now officially open due to a $25 million NSW government investment.

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said the investment to modernise learning and teaching facilities at Kingscliff would make a big difference to the North Coast.

“As always, the Minns Labor Government is committed to delivering modern, practical learning spaces that reflect the needs of local industries and students, ensuring we are upskilling the workers for the future,” Whan said.

The state-of-the-art facilities incorporate industry-standard equipment across high-demand areas including construction, electrotechnology, and supply chain logistics courses, as well as aviation and aerospace, animal studies, design and fashion, photography, screen and media, and horticulture.

Construction, supply chain, and electrician students will benefit from new equipment and real-world facilities.

Animal care, veterinary nursing facilities, aviation security and remote pilot (drone) equipment, as well as a custom-built greenhouse, are among the new training capabilities.

New facilities are also included for design, fashion, photography and media students.

 

Diploma of Apparel, Fashion and Textiles student Rada Campbell said the facilities at TAFE NSW Kingscliff were well-equipped.

“We train on a wide range of sewing machines used in the fashion industry, which builds our confidence and prepares us for real-world production,” Campbell said. “It’s an exciting time to be a student at TAFE NSW.”

Duty MLC for Tweed Emily Suvaal said the purpose-built facilities were a game-changer.

“Whether it’s fashion, aviation, construction or animal care, students now have access to the same kinds of tools and environments they’ll be working with in industry,” Suvaal said.

“By providing modern, hands-on training spaces, we’re not only giving students the best start, we’re also supporting local industries to access the skilled workforce they need to grow.”

The NSW government’s $3.4 billion investment includes $20.1 million for fee-free apprenticeships and traineeships, a $13.8 million Construction Workforce Package, and $121 million to repair TAFE NSW campuses statewide.