Minister for Skills and Training, Alister Henskens, opened stage two of the National Electrical and Communications Association’s (NECA) Centre of Excellence in Chullora, saying it will turbocharge the take-up of vocational education and training, and help address skills shortages.
“The NSW Government is driving a construction boom and there’s enormous demand for tradespeople, particularly in electrical and communications trades,” Mr Henskens said.
“This new state-of-the-art facility will be a powerhouse for apprentice and post-trade training, by combining practical real-world skills with mentoring, industry partnerships and career opportunities.”
The new facilities allow NECA to enhance post-trade training offerings in areas like telecommunications, solar, battery storage and smart metering. It also includes a 100-seat auditorium.
General Manager of NECA Training and Apprenticeships, Tom Emeleus, says the new centre is one of the construction industry’s latest and most comprehensive facilities.
“The new facility will cater to students across a wide range of courses, including addressing areas of critical skills shortages and advanced training within clean energy infrastructure,” Mr Emeleus said.
“Our holistic approach to training, addressing emerging and advanced technologies and the changing requirements of the industry, gives the NECA Centre of Excellence a strong opportunity to lead the industry.”
Trade train boom
THOUSANDS of apprentices will benefit from upgrades to a state-of-the-art training centre in Chullora.