Following the signing of the National Skills Agreement the NSW Government is continuing to bolster its commitment to reskill NSW and transform the economy to net zero with TAFE NSW launching eight new micro skills related to renewables.
The five-year National Skills Agreement (NSA) will deliver a Commonwealth investment of up to $3.8 billion into the skills and training sector in NSW, supporting the Minns Labor government’s commitment to rebuild TAFE and training in NSW.
In September, the NSW Government released its strategy to secure the reliable supply of clean and affordable renewable energy for NSW. With the NSA in place, NSW now has the funding security to boost skills training in the renewable energy and technology sector.
NSW TAFE announced eight new micro skills. These are short self-directed online courses aimed at developing a specific skill.
The courses to be rolled out over the next six months include:
- Emergency responder electric vehicle incident and emergency response
- Introduction to fuel-cell electric vehicles
- Contextualised fuel-cell electric vehicle
- Hydrogen energy fundamentals
- Electric vehicle charging station baseline knowledge
- Refuelling fuel-cell electric vehicles
- Prepare to work in the renewable energy sector
- Introduction to wind farms.
These courses will ensure as more consumers purchase electric vehicles and the electric bus fleet expands, existing workers in the automotive industry will be equipped with the required skills in maintenance, repair and charging of these vehicles.
These courses will also ensure emergency responders such as police, paramedics, fire and rescue workers can be trained to manage the unique challenges of electric vehicle accidents.
Premier Chris Minns said: “The National Skills Agreement will pave the way in supporting the people of NSW to gain the skills they require for emerging industries.
“These courses are an example of where funding from the NSA can be utilised to ensure TAFE NSW accelerates skills training in renewable energy through collaboration with industry and government.”
Minister for Energy Penny Sharpe said: “The Renewable Energy Roadmap is essential to transitioning our electricity system, and without the workers we cannot achieve it.
“This is a terrific first step in creating pathways to jobs in renewables and an essential step to decarbonising the economy.”
Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said: “The National Skills Agreement means vital funding is secured to accelerate skills training in NSW, keeping TAFE NSW at the forefront of the sector.
“These eight new micro skills are just the first step.
“I’m particularly excited about how these micro skills will benefit our regional areas, school leavers and existing tradespeople by introducing them to skills and opportunities in wind and solar power generation particularly those within Renewable Energy Zones.”