Funding for Tech Schools to fuel energy workforce - Education Matters Magazine

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Funding for Tech Schools to fuel energy workforce

Tech Schools in Victoria can now apply for their share of the state government’s $10 million Tech Schools Clean Energy Equipment Fund (CEEF) which will help equip students for roles as data analysts, engineers, electricians, and technicians.

The funding is part of the Victorian State Government’s effort to ensure Victorian secondary students are ready to embrace the jobs of the future, with high quality renewable energy equipment to learn with.

Victoria’s next big build will be the renewable energy transition – delivering cheaper, more reliable renewable energy into the grid and creating 59,000 jobs.

Minister for Education Ben Carroll today announced applications for the $10 million Tech Schools Clean Energy Equipment Fund (CEEF) are now open – which will help Tech Schools ensure students are better equipped to enter energy roles such as data analysts, engineers, electricians, and technicians.

Tech Schools work with local secondary schools and industry partners to deliver practical and future career-linked STEM education that students need to succeed in areas such as renewable energy, robotics and advanced manufacturing.

The Tech Schools Clean Energy Equipment Fund is part of the state government’s $116 million investment to create six new Tech Schools in Brimbank, Dandenong, Frankston, Hume, Wangaratta, and Warrnambool.

Tech Schools can use the CEEF to purchase equipment such as wind turbine simulators, solar car kits or hydrogen generation kits. The schools can use this equipment to develop new programs introducing students to key concepts, technology, and pathways in renewable energy.

Equipment can also contribute to existing programs such as Gippsland Tech School’s ‘Renewable Future’, which introduces students to solar and wind energy generation, or Casey Tech School’s ‘Discovering energy’, in which students conduct experiments to optimise the production of renewable energy and its use in vehicles and homes.

“Thanks to the Tech Schools Clean Energy Equipment Fund our secondary school students will have even more opportunities to pursue a career in renewable energy,” Victorian Minister for Education Ben Carroll said.

“The Fund will ensure students have access to the latest industry-standard equipment so they can be best placed to become successful in the renewable energy sector in the future.”

The CEEF also enables Tech Schools to deliver programs which spark students’ interest in renewable energy and prepares them with skills for a range of jobs including carbon sector specialists, electric vehicle repair technicians, battery design specialists, energy auditors and energy efficiency engineers.

Victoria is on track to meet its target of 95 per cent renewable energy generation by 2035, creating 59,000 jobs – including 6,000 traineeships and apprentices – to deliver the infrastructure and services needed.

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