The Gillard Government will provide $21.3 million to Charles Darwin University (CDU) to establish a trades training facility at its Casuarina Campus in Darwin.

Parliamentary secretary for higher education and skills, Sharon Bird MP was in Darwin today to announce the funding under the Regional Priorities Round of the Education Investment Fund (EIF) for CDU’s VET Infrastructure Development to Address Skills Needs and Economic Change in the NT project.

“The new facility will support students across the Northern Territory by providing training in mechanical, civil and green skills, as well as electro-technology, building and construction, and process engineering,” Sharon says.

“The project will also provide targeted pathways and educational support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, recent migrants and refugees in skills relevant to the liquefied natural gas, energy and resources, and personal services sectors.”

Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, Chris Bowen MP says the Government is committed to investing in trades training to build a highly skilled workforce and meet the needs of our economy.

“Projects funded through the Government’s Regional Priorities Round will develop world class teaching and learning facilities to ensure regional students have better quality education opportunities,” Chris says.

“This new VET training facility is expected to produce an additional 750 VET graduates per annum at Certificate III level and above.”

The trades training facility will comprise internal open and flexibly configured learning spaces using mobile equipment, classrooms, a computer laboratory, a student common room, and staff office space. It will also include specially designed safe, open areas for dangerous and elevated skills training.

Modern ICT will be incorporated to enable the use of e-learning methods, including those requiring the high bandwidth capability of the National Broadband Network.

The technological capability of the facilities will support remote delivery into more than 100 Indigenous communities.