The Victorian Government has announced investments that will aid in delivering more affordable renewable energy and supporting future skilled jobs.
According to the State Government, Victoria is leading the transition to 95% renewable energy generation by 2035, which will create 59,000 jobs, and the Victorian Budget 2023/24 is preparing the workforce with the essential skills, training, and pathways.
The State Government is investing $5 million to develop the business case for the State Electricity Commission (SEC) Centre of Training Excellence, which will coordinate and accredit apprenticeship courses for TAFEs. RTOs, training organisations, workers, and industry.
“We’re bringing back the SEC, which means more than a better power deal for households – we’re delivering the jobs of the future while providing Victorian students the pathways and training they need to get them,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.
“We recognise the role clean energy will play in our state’s future and are making it easier than ever for secondary students to connect with the terrific career opportunities that come with this,” Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins stated.
This year’s Budget invests $7.5 million on VET routes for students, including renewable energy paths embedded into the government’s core VET in schools, to prepare students for high-paying employment in the future.
This means that any VCE student, including VCE Vocational Major and Victorian Pathways Certificate students, may train towards a future in Victoria’s thriving renewable energy sector by adding electrotechnology, engineering, or laboratory skills to their school studies.
The Andrews Government also announced an investment of $116 million to build new Tech Schools in Brimbank, Dandenong, Frankston, Hume, Wangaratta, and Warrnambool.
Tech Schools collaborate with local secondary schools and industry to provide immersive, practical, and future career-related STEM education to students interested in renewable energy, robotics, and advanced manufacturing.
The $116 million investment in six new tech schools also includes $10 million to create a Clean Energy Equipment Fund for new and existing tech schools. This fund will aid students in learning about the most recent advancements in renewable energy in cutting-edge learning labs like advanced battery technology, hydrogen generation, and robotics.
The Fund contains $6 million for Federation TAFE’s Stage 2 Asia Pacific Renewable Energy Training Centre in Ballarat, $5 million for TAFE Gippsland’s Clean Energy Centre in Morwell, and $5 million for South West TAFE’s Building Innovation and Design Centre in Warrnambool.
“We’re backing TAFEs to train and upskill the next generation of workers we will need to bring back the SEC and deliver even more renewable energy projects across the state,” Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney said.
To further immerse students in future chances, $19.1 million will be provided to 10,000 students to gain work experience in high-demand areas such as renewable energy, enhancing the accessibility of career education and work-based learning students.
There is also an additional $7 million for renewable energy VET certificates and other qualifications, which will provide world-class training and career pathways for Victorians, as well as a new $10 million Hydrogen Energy Worker Training Centre, which will train new hydrogen workers and upskill existing workers.
Victoria will host Australia’s first offshore wind farms, and a $6 million investment in the Wind Worker Training Centre will prepare people for offshore and onshore wind jobs.
The State Government is also investing $1 billion in SEC-delivered new construction renewable energy projects to replace Loy Yang A’s 4.5 gigawatts of capacity, which will close in 2035.
“Victoria is leading the nation on climate action as we work towards net zero by 2045, bring back the SEC and deliver thousands of jobs as part of our transition towards a renewable energy future,” Minister for the State Electricity Commission Lily D’Ambrosio said.
