Work begins on Cairns TAFE’s $4m manufacturing skills boost

Cairns TAFE will deliver state-of-the-art training and facilities as work begins on a $4m upgrade.

Work has started on a $4m Cairns TAFE Advanced Manufacturing Skills Lab that will deliver state-of-the-art training and facilities to ensure Queensland maintains a skilled manufacturing workforce to meet a growing demand.

The $4m refurbishment will include specific automation and robotics labs to

support high-end manufacturing training in augmented reality, activation space, automation and robotics.

A 3D render of some of the $4m upgrade to the Cairns TAFE Advanced Manufacturing Lab that will include state-of-the-art training equipment and facilities to equip Queenslanders in the growing manufacturing industry. Picture: Supplied.

Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said the facilities were part of a multimillion-dollar investment into Cairns TAFE including a beauty and hospitality precinct as well as upgrades to specialised teaching areas.

“Providing modern training and facilities to meet skills demands now and into the

future is at the core of the Palaszczuk Government’s Good People. Good Jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032 and I am excited to see works start on

this important project,” Ms Farmer said.

A 3D render of a part of the $4m upgrade to the Cairns TAFE Advanced Manufacturing Lab that will include state-of-the-art training equipment and facilities to equip Queenslanders in the growing manufacturing industry. Picture: Supplied.

The skills lab would also include an electrical lab, mixed virtual reality room, flexible training rooms, collaborative workspaces and multipurpose workshops.
Construction of the new facilities would complement the traditional delivery of trade training and enable students to undertake training in Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), used for industrial automation.

A 3D render of a section of the $4m upgrade to the Cairns TAFE Advanced Manufacturing Lab. Picture: Supplied.

“Add to this our $16m plan for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Training College

and facilities like these that will give Cairns and Far North Queensland people great

opportunities and good jobs.

“Importantly we’ve made it even easier for students in FNQ to access further training

with our Fee Free TAFE,” Ms Farmer said.

A 3D render of some of the facilities in the $4m upgrade to the Cairns TAFE Advanced Manufacturing Lab. Picture: Supplied.

Member for Cairns Michael Healy said the upgrade was a strong investment to keep Far North Queensland at the cutting edge of training to meet the manufacturing industry’s needs.

“Cairns TAFE already has more than 6800 students enrolled in a wide variety of

courses and I am sure the new Advanced Manufacturing Skills Lab will attract many

more when it is completed,” Mr Healy said.

Originally published as Work begins on Cairns TAFE’s $4m manufacturing skills boost