Training partnership wins Premier's Industry Collaboration Award

TAFE Queensland Chief Executive Officer Mary Campbell said the award recognises the outstanding achievements of TAFE Queensland and Rheinmetall Defence Australia in delivering high level welding skills and training vital to the production of Australia’s newest combat vehicles in Queensland.

“Defence is a rapidly growing global industry and skilling participants with the right qualifications to build sovereign capability will make Queenslanders more competitive in securing work in defence and advanced manufacturing industries,” Mrs Campbell said.

“The program enables local engineering and advanced manufacturing businesses to upskill existing workers and transitional welders to the international welding standard, providing them the opportunity to become part of the defence industry supply chain,” she said.

Rheinmetall Defence Australia and TAFE Queensland have established a strong partnership built around a Memorandum of Understanding which was endorsed by TAFE Queensland CEO Mary Campbell and Rheinmetall Defence Australia Managing Director Gary Stewart at the companies Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in February 2020.

The partnership is vital to supporting the $5.2 billion LAND 400 Phase 2 contract to build 211 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles in South East Queensland. Without ISO 9606 qualified welders Queensland engineering and manufacturing businesses would have needed to engage overseas workers.

The ISO9606 Fusion Welding Program also supports Rheinmetall’s bid for the LAND 400 Phase 3 Mounted Close Combat Capability acquisition of up to 450 Infantry Fighting Vehicles and up to 17 Manoeuvre Support Vehicles.

To be at the forefront of training that unites and supports our economy and the growth of local supply chain businesses within both the national and international market, is a milestone that TAFE Queensland is extremely proud of,” Mrs Campbell said.

“Since the initial pilot program was launched, TAFE Queensland has already trained 130 participants in the new international welding qualification,” she said.

The Queensland Training Awards are the peak, state awards for the vocational education and training (VET) sector, recognising individuals, businesses and registered training organisations for their contribution to skilling Queenslanders.