Recently, SkillsTech Australia hosted its first open day at the Acacia Ridge Training Centre in Queensland. It attracted over 500 Queenslanders interested in apprenticeships.
SkillsTech Australia Institute Director, Mary Campbell, said the open day gave Queensland students the opportunity to tour the world-class training centre and featured hands-on activities and demonstrations in all trades delivered at the centre.
Mrs Campbell said the TAFE’s training centre included the largest fully functioning foundry in the southern hemisphere; a $13 million heavy commercial vehicle and diesel training facility; a $20 million electrical, refrigeration and air-conditioning training facility; an $8 million wet trades training facility; and $25 million engineering and $13 million student services facilities which are due to be completed in August 2012.
“The Queensland Government had committed more than $200 million to the development of facilities at SkillsTech Australia to address skills shortages; it really is an impressive training centre and we had lots of positive feedback from potential students today,” Mrs Campbell said.
“We featured Try’a Trade activities for automotive, building and construction, electrotechnology, sustainable technologies and water, and manufacturing and engineering trades to showcase what trade training is all about.
“Our trade teachers were on-hand to speak with students to discuss what opportunities were available to them.
“There were also information stalls from Construction Skills Queensland, Automotive Skills Queensland, Manufacturing Skills Queensland, Energy Skills Queensland, Central Queensland University, East Coast Apprenticeships, MIGAS, MEGT and Busy at Work to talk to prospective apprentices.”
Schools in attendance included Park Ridge, Rochedale, Corinda, Woodridge, Beaudesert State High Schools and Cleveland District State High School plus Brisbane Adventist College, Emmaus College (Jimboomba), Redlands College, and Stretton State College.