According to Mary Campbell, CEO of TAFE Queensland , in response to inquiries from David Waterworth:
In order to provide the people, information, and expertise required in industry for 140 years, TAFE Queensland has grown alongside our economy and local communities. The coming years will be no different.
Every year, in order to guarantee that Queenslanders are prepared for the jobs of the future, we collaborate closely with the federal and state governments, businesses, and communities to design and provide new training for developing priority industries. This effort will cross several industry sectors in the upcoming years, including manufacturing, agribusiness, screen and digital, and energy/renewables, such as battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
Rystad Energy predicts that BEV sales will account for 50% of all new car sales globally by 2033 and practically all new car sales worldwide by 2050. Additionally, 4.6% of all vehicles sold in 2017 were BEVs, and Rystad forecasts that by 2026, this percentage will treble.
By aiming to include clean energy technology into our selection of automotive and electrical credentials, TAFE Queensland is leading the “charge” for BEV training in Australia as more and more battery electric vehicles are expected to be on Australian roads.
Our goal is to be one of the first training organizations in Australia to be authorized to offer the Certificate III in Automotive Electric Vehicle Technology (AUR32721). With this qualification, technicians working in the automotive service and repair sector will be able to service, diagnose, and fix BEVs and their components in accordance with Australian Standard 5732 Electric Vehicle Operations — Maintenance and Repair.
As a result, apprentices will soon have the chance to learn new skills while training with electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles using tools and techniques that are accepted in the industry. This will guarantee that our apprentices acquire the knowledge and hands-on experience required to equip them for cutting-edge technology and the dynamic automotive industry.
Additionally, TAFE Queensland offers the Safely Depower and Reinitialise Hybrid Vehicles Skill Set as an elective unit in our Light Vehicle Automotive apprenticeships and as a standalone skill set — with more skill sets on scope for development — to ensure qualified automotive technicians (both light and heavy commercial vehicles) have adequate training to operate on and around battery electric and hybrid vehicles.
At the end of October, TAFE Queensland will also begin a Hybrid and Battery Electric Vehicle Training Pilot Program at our Acacia Ridge campus in Brisbane, Queensland. The program will offer nationally recognized units in hybrid and battery electric vehicles to current technicians and offers a preview of what’s to come in this developing training area. These units will be incorporated into future apprenticeships throughout the state.
TAFE Queensland is teaching electricians about the inner workings of various electric motors in the electrical field, as well as the infrastructure needed for their charging stations, such as the wiring, switchboards, and environment design to accommodate charging a car.
In order to guarantee that apprentices are better equipped for the upcoming needs of industry, TAFE Queensland will also be establishing a new skill set in 2023, giving additional units to support current curriculum in photovoltaic install and design. To ensure that apprentices obtain a higher awareness and understanding of emerging technologies and the role that electricians will play in the future, this skill set will be made available as part of a variety of apprentice optional courses.
This year, TAFE Queensland also signed an agreement with Ark Energy (Townsville) to provide training for one of Australia’s industries with the fastest-growing labor markets. The employees of Ark Energy and its related enterprises will receive training from TAFE Queensland, and we are honored to be able to play such a significant role in determining Queensland’s future in hydrogen.
In order to fulfill the Global Goals of the United Nations and ensure that we leave a better planet for future generations, we at TAFE Queensland think that vocational education and training are crucial.
This commitment is outlined in our Social and Environmental Sustainability Action Want, which also lists a wide range of actions we plan to implement between 2020 and 2024, many of which are currently underway.
For instance, TAFE Queensland is upgrading many of its campuses with sustainable and energy-saving technology, such as installing solar power systems, energy-efficient lighting, and motion detectors on air conditioners, as well as reducing waste through increased recycling efforts. This is all part of the plan’s focus on TAFE Queensland’s campus infrastructure.
As the first vocational education and training campus in Australia built from the ground up to be sustainable in its building, fitout, procurement, curriculum, operations, and culture, our new Robina campus is another excellent example of our commitment to creating greener and more innovative infrastructure. In addition to having sensor-activated lighting and 250 solar panels, the campus makes the best use of performance solar glass and includes other green energy-generating elements.
The Great Depression, two world wars, and the current pandemic are just a few examples of the great upheaval and uncertainty that our communities have experienced over the past 140 years. We are proud to be able to play such a significant role in determining Queensland’s future in the emerging energy and renewables industries.
We have shown Queensland that we are capable of adjusting to changes in business, technology, and culture. We are very proud of the role TAFE Queensland has played and will continue to play in enhancing our state.
The goal of TAFE Queensland is to provide students with the knowledge and experience necessary to launch successful careers for the rest of their lives.
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