TAFE NSW – Illawarra Institute is the largest provider of Vocational Education and Training in Southern NSW, delivering to 40,000 students (7.5% of TAFE NSW’s total enrolments). Through 14 campuses and access centres, it services the industrial and domestic communities of the Illawarra, Southern Highlands, Eden Monaro, Shoalhaven and South Coast districts, covering 54,000 square kilometres, with a population in excess of 580,000.

Illawarra Institute has a high business and customer service ethos; strong industry and community relationships; and is committed to quality teaching and learning. This year, the Institute will deliver over 500 courses through 12,000 modules delivered by nine specialist teaching Faculties. The Institute employs 1,215 equivalent full-time educational and administrative staff, including 24 Institute Managers.

The Institute was successful in winning the Integral Energy Illawarra Business Award for Excellence in Education in both 2003 and 2004.

Managers of State-wide projects

TAFE NSW recently won a major tender to support the training requirements of the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) Authorised Inspection Station Scheme. Authorised Inspection Stations are privately owned garages and workshops accredited by the RTA to conduct motor vehicle safety inspections prior to registration renewal.

‘Illawarra Institute will project manage the delivery of training, which will be conducted around the State in consultation with all TAFE NSW Institutes. TAFE NSW has excellent automotive facilities to be able to deliver both the theoretical and practical components of training,’ said Barry Peddle, Illawarra Institute Director. ‘In addition, distance learning packages will be made available for remote areas. It is anticipated over 3,000 automotive industry representatives will undergo this training annually.’

Training tailored to suit business needs

Through its Business Development Unit, Faculty Deans and team of expert trainers, Illawarra Institute collaborates with local business, industry, community organisations, government departments, local Councils and individuals to develop and deliver customised training programs tailored to their particularly needs or strategic plans.

The Institute’s products and services also include the development and delivery of TAFE PLUS Short Courses, which address legislative or mandatory training requirements. These programs can be delivered to individuals or customised and delivered on-site for corporate clients, including continuing professional development in some industry sectors. A range of training consultancy services is also available. The Institute has extensive multimedia resources, and is able to provide online training programs, as well as develop training resources to support clients’ in-house training initiatives.

Training Partnerships

Illawarra Institute has developed training partnerships with key organisations in the local region, including Bega Cheese, Monbeef and Manildra Starches, and local government organisations, including Eurobodalla Council and Shoalhaven City Council.

Graduation Ceremony: participants of the on-site training course delivered at Bega Cheese received their TAFE NSW Certificate III in Food Processing

In some cases, a Training Partnership Manager is placed on-site at a client’s premises to work closely with management on the logistics and delivery of these programs. Customised training is delivered on-site using the equipment and workplace processes that are familiar to their employees, who then receive a nationally accredited qualification. Many of these projects are funded by the Australian Traineeship Training Program, under the New and Existing Worker provision.

One key training partnership has been with Bega Cheese. The Institute has been working with Bega Cheese since it opened in October 1998. The Institute has delivered the Food Processing (Dairying) Certificate course to over 250 new and existing plant workers over the past two years. In addition, a wide range of other customised training programs, including the Frontline Management Certificate to upgrade the skills of supervisors and production managers, has been delivered.

A Training Partnership Manager was also established on-site at the Manildra Starches plant in Bomaderry. The company needs to stay abreast of the many changes to legislation and codes of practice with which their operations must comply. However, their 24-hour operational commitments and other work constraints presented challenges which the Institute had to overcome when coordinating and providing appropriate training. As a result, the company entered into a formal agreement with Illawarra Institute that provided solutions to their flexible training requirements.

Through its partnership with Illawarra Institute, Manildra Starches now provides its staff with a broad range of training programs to ensure its workforce possesses the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to perform effectively in the competitive modern world.

No 1 Provider of AussieHost Training in Australia

The Retailers Association of NSW recently acknowledged Illawarra Institute as the top AussieHost provider in Australia. Through its Nowra Campus, the Institute has delivered this exceptional customer service training program to over 300 businesses throughout the Shoalhaven region.

Shoalhaven City Council has now engaged the Institute to deliver the program, with a range of other customer service initiatives, to more than 150 Council staff over the next twelve months as part of its ‘Year of the Customer’ project.

Addressing skill shortages on a regional level

TAFE NSW -- Illawarra Institute teachers are at hand to work face-to-face with industry trainees

The Institute works with local industry groups and government organisations to address skills shortages in the region. With additional funding from the Department of Education and Training, the Institute provides a range of pre-vocational training programs designed to tackle youth unemployment and skills shortages in the Illawarra region.

The Institute is working collaboratively with the Illawarra and Shoalhaven Apprenticeship Pilot Project team to place students with employers once they have completed six month pre-apprenticeship training at the Institute. Now in its second year of operation, this project has placed over 98 apprentices, surpassing its original goal of 80 placements. It offers incentives to encourage small and medium-size businesses to take on apprentices.

Australia-wide training

A joint venture has been established with Travelscene/American Express that enables staff to gain qualifications in Certificate III and Certificate IV Tourism. The company introduced the program to offer the qualifications to staff working in its more than 600 travel agencies around Australia.

The Institute also specialises in providing training nationally in the areas of electrical equipment in hazardous areas and mining programs.