SkillsTech Australia held their annual Open Day at the Acacia Ridge Training Centre on 10 May 2013.
More than 700 Queensland students interested in apprenticeships were given the opportunity to tour training centre and try the hands-on activities and demonstrations of the trades the centre delivers.
SkillsTech Australia Institute Director Mary Campbell says the TAFE's training centre includes:
- the largest fully functioning foundry in the southern hemisphere
- a $13-million heavy commercial vehicle and diesel training facility
- a $20-million electrical, refrigeration and air-conditioning training facility
- an $8-million wet trades training facility
- $25-million engineering and $13-million student services facilities.
“The Queensland Government had committed more than $200 million to the development of facilities at SkillsTech Australia to address skills shortages; it really is an impressive training centre and we had lots of positive feedback from potential students today,” Campbell said.
“We featured Try’a Trade activities for automotive, building and construction, electrotechnology, sustainable technologies and water, and manufacturing and engineering trades to showcase what trade training is all about.
“Our trade teachers were on-hand to speak with students to discuss what opportunities were available to them.
“There were also information stalls from Construction Skills Queensland, Manufacturing Skills Queensland, Energy Skills Queensland, Central Queensland and Griffith Universities, East Coast Apprenticeships, MIGAS, and Busy at Work to talk to prospective apprentices.”