Defence Partnership Creates New Training Opportunities Whilst Keeping Families Together
August 2023
Wodonga TAFE’s collaboration with the Australian Defence Force will now be extended nationally due to a successful tender that will enable increased training opportunities for Defence members whilst bringing employment for up to 250 staff members. Whilst Wodonga TAFE has already been partnering with Defence to provide technical trades training in heavy vehicle, plant machinery and medic training, the new contract will enable training to now be offered on a national scale to include both Navy and Army members.
The new contract will see over 100 Accredited and Non-Accredited courses delivered to over 2000 Defence members every year in construction, engineering, mechanical, electrical and electronics trades in locations closer to their Defence bases.
Structured collaboration keeps families together
This successful outcome has been made possible through a collaboration with national training partners in the National Technical Education Network (NTEN). Wodonga will lead the delivery whilst partnering with Chisholm Institute, TAFE Queensland, University of New England Partnerships, National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA), Kangan Institute, Charles Darwin University, Kinetic IT, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) and South Metropolitan TAFE.
The national collaboration will also ensure ongoing and secure employment for up to 250 dedicated staff members across the NTEN over the next 5 years with a potential for the contract agreement to be extended to up to 10 years.
It is also a win for sailors and soldiers who will no longer have to travel and spend time away from families and loved ones through the broadened availability of training opportunities across Australia through the NTEN. Previously Defence members would often face leaving families for months at a time to travel to attend courses. The increase in availability may also result in an increase in Defence members pursuing upskilling opportunities and career development.
Damien Crawley, Executive Officer, Training Transformation Solutions, Wodonga TAFE
“We are proud to have a nationwide network of strategically aligned RTOs, led by Wodonga TAFE, with an established sovereign training capability that meets Navy and Army needs for Joint Technical Trades Training that is high-quality, scalable, and fit for purpose.”
Phil Paterson, Chief Executive Officer, Wodonga TAFE
“We are very proud to offer this service in support of those defending our nation. Our success is a testament to all the work our staff and our partner TAFEs have put in to fulfil our existing partnership with Defence, and the work put in to create this new exciting contract.
This is a big win for Wodonga TAFE, our local region, the Victorian TAFE Network, and our National Technical Education Network.”
Imagery supplied via Department of Defence Image Bank, under Copyright of the Commonwealth Government.
