Specialist Centres and Networks
This initiative facilitates key linkages between industry and the training system including research and development and identifying new and emerging skills and research.
Specialist centres and networks also facilitate resource sharing across the Victorian TAFE sector and enable a single point of entry into the vocational education and training system for industries and organisations seeking training solutions in specialised industry areas.
Higher Education and Skills' activities in facilitating this intiative include:
- monitoring specialist centres and networks
- building on the network of TAFE providers and industry participants
- extending the provision of training addressing high level and specialised skills
- investigating the uptake of specialised training in those enterprises and identify gaps
- enhancing the capability of the TAFE providers of through participation in higher level diploma and graduate studies for TAFE teachers
- developing industry consultancy skills of TAFE teachers
- undertaking development of training resources for the VET sector at Certificate IV level
- working with networks to develop the ongoing viability of TAFE Training Networks
- providing industry intelligence
- advising on strategy formation and project development in response to industry requirements
- contributing resources to the network.
A number of projects intended to deliver training in new areas of TAFE provision have been undertaken by specialist centres and their associated networks in recent years. These have included extensions to the Specialist Energy Training Network, the Centre for New Manufacturing, and the Centre for Sustainable Water Management, which were all announced in the Premier’s Jobs for the Future Economy Statement.
Other initiatives have included research studies and pilot training programs concerned with controlled environment horticulture, lean construction, renewable energy, and exotic materials in manufacturing.
Find a Specialist Centre or Network
International Fibre Centre
The International Fibre Centre’s role is to support training in the fibre and textile industry. Recent initiatives include:
- Fibre and Textile Provider Network (FTPN) - provides specialised training to companies in the fibre and textile industries
- Sustainable Enterprise Network (SEN) - addresses in a systematic way sustainability issues in fibre and textile companies
- Industry Associations Consortium (IAC) - provides a framework for the major textile industry associations to collaborate in providing support and direction for training delivered through TAFE (and other providers) for the fibre and textile industries