Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing TAFE Centre to boost energy sector skills for clean economy transition
A new $60 million Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at TAFE NSW’s Tighes Hill campus will prepare workers for clean energy jobs and bolster the region’s renewable energy workforce.
The State and Federal Governments are committing over $60 million to establish the Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at TAFE NSW’s Tighes Hill campus in Newcastle. This centre will be a resource for building advanced skills in net-zero manufacturing, supplying a workforce for the energy transition in the Hunter and Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone and Northern NSW.
The funding includes $28.1 million each from the federal and NSW governments, with an additional $5.27 million from the federal government to support the centre. This combined investment will support the rollout of new training models in advanced skills essential for net zero manufacturing, including a higher apprenticeship model that combines vocational training with higher education units.
The new Centre of Excellence will drive skills growth by:
- Increasing the renewable energy workforce through technology-based learning, with mobile units providing training access in regional and remote northern NSW areas.
- Creating a National Renewable Energy Microskills Marketplace, allowing TAFEs across Australia to share and access digital non-accredited courses relevant to the renewable sector.
- Introducing a higher apprenticeship model that blends traditional trade skills, such as electrotechnology, welding, and fabrication, with high-level digital technology units to prepare workers for the emerging clean energy economy.
The centre will also leverage partnerships with universities and local industry to create qualification pathways that offer equal recognition for vocational education and training (VET) and higher education. This collaborative approach will help NSW meet the increasing demand for skills needed to support the decarbonisation of mining, energy, and manufacturing sectors.
The Centre is the second of three TAFE NSW Manufacturing Centres of Excellence aimed at enhancing Australia’s onshore manufacturing capacity, part of the Federal Government’s $325 million National Skills Agreement aimed at supporting up to 20 TAFE Centres of Excellence across high-skill needs areas. An increase in apprentice numbers, especially in fields like electrotechnology, engineering, and mechatronics, will provide the skills to transition key industries to a cleaner energy future.
Both governments see this centre as critical to meeting the growing demand for skills in the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone and supporting the construction and maintenance of locally manufactured projects like the NSW Tangara fleet.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke of the importance of supporting skilled labour in the Hunter region: “Investing in a Future Made in Australia means investing in the skills and training industry will need in the years to come. The Hunter has a proud history of industry and manufacturing – which is why this is the perfect place for this Centre of Excellence. This builds on the skills that are already a part of this region’s DNA.”
Premier of NSW Chris Minns echoed this sentiment, highlighting the opportunity to support local industries: “The Hunter region is a powerhouse for energy and manufacturing and we are proud to partner with the Albanese Government to deliver this training centre so the local community and industry have the skills needed to benefit from the energy transition. This is part of our plan to deliver affordable reliable energy and drive down emissions.”
NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan added, “Skilled workers are critical to support NSW’s transition to net zero and clean energy and to boost our onshore manufacturing capabilities in resources, aviation, defence, and transport.”
