Tara Murray
Construction of a Sustainable Plumbing Centre will be fast-tracked at Kangan Institute’s Broadmeadows campus.
The state government has committed $5.5 million for the project through the $55 million TAFE Asset Maintenance Fund which is supporting upgrades to TAFEs across Victoria to create jobs and help drive the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
The centre will enable all of the Kangan’s plumbing courses to be co-located at Broadmeadows and will better position the TAFE to meet trade training demand in Melbourne’s north.
The TAFE will also add certificates III and IV plumbing qualifications to its current stable of courses.
Kangan chief executive Sally Curtain says the new facility will help meet the skills gap while addressing specific industry training needs.
The centre will include workshops and classrooms and ‘sandpits’ for a simulated workplace environment and will have capacity to train 300 additional students – mostly apprentices
“Sustainable plumbing is as much about making things last as it is saving water, and we know from working closely with our industry partners that this is the mindset any new trainees entering the workforce will need,” she said.
“This will support the increased focus on creating sustainable trades practices that seek to reduce waste on building and construction sites.
“We are very pleased to be supported by the Victorian government in creating this training pathway.”
Work on the centre is due to begin in May 2021 and be finished by the start of second semester next year.
