Tonsley Tafe SA applications open with new courses offered to students

Students can apply to study at the new $120 million Tonsley TAFE SA from today (September 23) with new building and construction courses being offered from next year.

The new Tonsley TAFE SA campus, located within the Sustainable Industries Education Centre, is currently under construction and will open in January 2014.

Students can apply for the Building and Construction courses and will attend for  traditional trades training across twenty-six disciplines including electrical, refrigeration and air-conditioning, plumbing, carpentry and joinery, furnishing and building, interior design and drafting, painting and decorating, bricklaying, plastering and tiling.

As part of Tonsley TAFE SA’s focus on developing skills for a more sustainable industry - new courses will be offered in two new areas - renewable energy and water operations.

Tonsley TAFE SA Director Peter Nolan said course applications opening mark the countdown to the opening on the new state of the art $120 million Tonsley TAFE SA in January 2014.

“Tonsley TAFE will provide students with access to the best trades training in Australia, new ways of learning not available at any other TAFE and world-class facilities and trades training infrastructure, said Mr Nolan.

“It will house training for more than 6,500 students a year with an average of 800 attending every day in a hub that for the first time brings together all the building trades under one roof so they’re able to learn and work together as they’ll be required to do in the industry.

“If you want to kick start your career in the building and construction industry then you need to be at Tonsley TAFE.”

Work on the new Tonsley TAFE SA campus is progressing well and on completion will provide nearly 45,000m2 of world-class, energy efficient, trade training infrastructure for the $4.5 billion South Australian building and construction industry.

The open plan design  and floor to ceiling glass in the main building and construction area means student learning will be on display and promoted as best practice to encourage cross trade collaboration within the building and construction industries.

A multi-purpose demonstration 4-storey construction site will give students and industry the opportunities to experience real life building services installations.

Beginning in the sandpits the structure allows recycled water, waste, power, communications and gas services to be co-ordinated, installed and commissioned in a controlled learning environment, simulating all aspects of building services design and coordination.

All services within the building will be on display to act as a constant reminder of the design and construction requirements of a functioning building and an ongoing learning opportunity for students.

Tonsley TAFE SA will mark a shift in the style of learning to a ‘student centric’ model where students will access information and resources from a variety of sources including face to face, online and peer to peer, said Mr Nolan.

“It will become industry centre for life-long learning where students will be able to return throughout their career for ongoing skill development.”

“Industry Reference Groups will guide course design and content to prepare graduates for workplace challenges and enable businesses to have their products, processes and systems tested at Tonsley TAFE in real-world conditions.

“It marks a shift away from sole reliance on government as TAFE works closely with industry to ensure training is aligned to future demand for skills.”

For more information on the courses available at Tonsley TAFE next year visit http://www.tafesa.edu.au/campuses/metro/tonsley/tonsley-courses

To apply visit http://www.satac.edu.au