NSW makes $300m investment in TAFE to rejuvenate infrastructure

The New South Wales Government has announced that it will invest $300 million into TAFE NSW this financial year to upgrade classrooms and campus infrastructure, deliver new teaching equipment, and improve digital connectivity across regional and remote campuses.

Leaking roofs, 15 year old WiFi systems and ‘crumbling classrooms’ are just some of the aspects which will be addressed through the investment, along with new teaching equipment and upgraded campus infrastructure. 

TAFE facilities in Wagga Wagga, Albury, Goulburn, Port Macquarie, Orange, and Armidale are expected to benefit from the upgrades.

In addition to maintenance work and new teaching equipment, the investment also provides more than $36 million for over 8,500 new digital devices and directs funding into improved digital connectivity at 28 regional campuses across the state.

The investment in digital connectivity is being seen as a particularly major win for regional communities and will be used to overhaul outdated network infrastructure, improve Wi-Fi connectivity, and build cyber security resilience, something the Government believes is critical for effective teaching and learning in the 21st century.

“When I became Minister for TAFE, I was alarmed to get letters from students at TAFE colleges in country NSW telling me they were using their own phones to get internet connectivity on their campuses – because the Wi-Fi was so out of date,” Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan said.

The funding will also ensure the completion of the redevelopment of TAFE NSW Kingscliff and the upgrade of TAFE NSW Coffs Harbour.

This investment, Mr Whan said, reflects the NSW Government’s commitment to place TAFE NSW at the heart of the vocational and education training system.