ALEXANDRA Hills TAFE campus will be re-branded as a SkillsTech campus from January 1 next year and revamped to cater to growing numbers of Redlands trades apprentices.
TAFE Queensland SkillsTech executive director for educational delivery Basil Harvey said 20 percent of TAFE apprentices in greater Brisbane were from the Redlands and Wynnum areas.
The Alexandra Hills campus would be grown to accommodate the region’s high number of trades students, with more course offerings to be announced soon.
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He said students had been travelling outside the Redlands to TAFE campuses at Acacia Ridge, Eagle Farm and Bracken Ridge for training.
The Alexandra Hills campus would help apprentices to stay in the Redlands, also capturing students from a high-growth corridor south of Redland Bay to Carbrook.
“For us, it is about building trades in the Redlands,” he said. “We do want to expand what we do.”
A free tradies breakfast was held on Thursday morning for employers looking to recruit local apprentices.
Business manager Barry Evans said $10 million pledged by Capalaba MP Don Brown and Redlands MP Kim Richards would be used to revamp old buildings and expand the campus.
Converting an existing undercover area into a plumbing centre of excellence was the first priority project, with new work areas to also be built.
“The campus is going to have a revamp of facilities,” Mr Evans said.
“We are growing so much and so quickly, we don’t have much room.”
Alexandra Hills TAFE staff have been trying to get local apprentices recruited by employers, with more than 1500 students enrolled at the campus for next year.
Bill Alexion said a coffee cart was being taken to different construction sites for hand-outs of free coffee and information about tertiary courses, apprentices available, higher level training, certification processes and trades licences.
Breakfast, morning tea and lunch for tradies could also be arranged for workers, with some costs covered by TAFE sponsors.
The cart was booked out until late December at construction sites with 20 to 300 people, Mr Alexion said.
For coffee cart inquiries, contact Mr Alexion on 0418 543 717.
