TasTAFE, in collaboration with Reece, other industry figures and Government, has inaugurated a ground-breaking partnership to establish the $27 million Water and Energy Trades (WET) Centre of Excellence. Opening its doors to its first students in July 2023, this state-of-the-art facility will increase TasTAFE’s capacity to train people to work in the water and energy sectors.
TasTAFE's WET Centre, situated at the Clarence Campus near Hobart, is a testament to modern training practices. Covering 5000m2 across two levels, the facility is designed to provide industry-aligned training for plumbing, gas, refrigeration, air conditioning, electrotechnology, and emerging sectors such as polywelding and hydrogen.
The WET Centre stands out as one of Australia's newest and most advanced training facilities. Its design, technology, and commitment to sustainability make it a pioneer in vocational education.
Reece’s three-year partnership is founded on supporting water and energy trade students in several ways, including:
providing access to contemporary learning resources, including CPD events for continuing education and upskilling
Supporting the continuing education of TasTAFE’s teachers
Delivering in-person plumbing apprenticeship training at TasTAFE
Subsidising tool kits for all TasTAFE’s first-year plumbing apprentices
The donation of materials included in the WET Centre build, including fixtures and fittings
Shane Reardon, Commercial Development Manager for Reece, said, “ TasTAFE’s commitment to working alongside industry means we can create more streamlined pathways and support beyond the classroom for those pursuing a career in the trade. At Reece, we know access to tools can be a major barrier to entering a trade so we hope this partnership will help close that gap and encourage more people to enter and stay in a trade.”
TasTAFE Manager, Industry Relationships and Business Growth, Matthew Dance, said TasTAFE welcomed the significant support provided by Reece.
“Increasing our engagement with industry is a priority for TasTAFE. Our partnership with Reece has been extremely valuable in assisting us to stay at the forefront of developments in the plumbing and water industries. It’s helping ensure our learners are receiving the most up-to-date, industry-standard training using the latest equipment.
"We look forward to continuing to work together,” Mr Dance said.
Reece is proud to work alongside other sponsors to support the next generation of trades.
