All Aboard! New training facility now open

• Final stage of specialist $5.4 million Trade Training Centre now complete
• WA-first facilities located at North Metropolitan TAFE Midland campus
• First groups of electrical rail signalling trainees now using the facility
• Creating a pipeline of skilled workers for the rail sector

Construction of the $5.4 million specialist Trade Training Centre is complete with Training Minister Simone McGurk and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti today officially opening the centre - the first dedicated public facility of its kind in Western Australia.

The new training centre, at North Metropolitan TAFE's Midland campus, was built to support training for jobs in the rail industry. 

The Trade Training Centre also recognises the extensive private and public rail infrastructure that supports key drivers of the Western Australian economy such as the resources and agricultural sectors.

The centre supports the delivery of a pipeline of workers to address skill shortages in highly technical roles that are critical to industry supply chains.

Developed in close consultation with industry, the facility includes rail signalling workshops, a dual-track level crossing, a maintenance track and crossover, and a signalling equipment room to enable hands-on training. A section of rail line is in place for training in maintenance of various gauges of rail.

Reflecting industry standards, the centre has been the beneficiary of donated specialised equipment from some of the giants of the Western Australian rail sector. 

Several groups of rail signalling technicians have started using the facilities for the Certificate IV in Rail Signalling.

From April, up to 15 secondary school students will also benefit from the new facilities when they commence the Certificate II in Rail Infrastructure through the Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Students (VETDSS) program.

Students will be supported with local training for a range of projects, creating job opportunities for local workers, pre-apprentices and apprentices while upskilling workers for construction and maintenance of WA's wider rail network.

For more information on courses available visit: http://www.jobsandskills.wa.gov.au

Training Minister's office - 6552 6600

Transport Minister's office - 6552 5500