The Australian Government has provided $750,000 to establish an Augmented Reality Welder Training Centre in Caboolture, Queensland, to train and upskill local welding apprentices and workers.

Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships, the Hon Steve Irons MP, attended the launch of centre at the TAFE Queensland campus today.

“The Government has collaborated with Weld Australia to invest in this facility, which will allow local industries to train welders to an international standard,” Assistant Minister Irons said.

“The facility will ensure local industry can be competitive worldwide and also meet the standards of future defence and infrastructure projects.”

The Caboolture-based training centre hosts ten welding simulators and has the capacity to train up to 200 workers each year to international welding standards. It will also deliver flexible programs to school students, workers transitioning into welding and engineering fields, and experienced welders wishing to upgrade their skills.

The augmented reality technology is portable, meaning training can be delivered onsite to small and medium sized businesses around the region, saving them time and money.

“This cutting-edge training centre is just part of the Government’s strategy for a vocational education and training system that is responsive to the needs of industry and flexible in providing skills for workers, whether it be foundational training, initial training, upskilling or re-skilling,” Assistant Minister Irons said.

“Its presence in the Caboolture community will open up so many new opportunities for local people and for local businesses in need of highly trained workers, bringing enormous economic potential to the region.”

Federal Member for Longman Terry Young MP said the new state-of-the-art Caboolture Augmented Reality Welder Training Centre would motivate welding apprentices, qualified welders and students from across the Longman electorate to polish and build on their skills and develop new ones.

“This centre will give so many apprentices, qualified welders and students the chance to access world-class practical training through an advanced technical training facility,” Mr Young said.

“For the electorate of Longman, this Centre brings about the creation of new opportunities, a stronger and more highly-trained workforce, the promotion of brighter employment prospects, allow apprentices, experienced welders and students the chance to sink their teeth into the advantages that a stronger economy will bring and open more pathways into trade employment.”