Training the next generation of SEC workers

Our SEC will help find and train the next generation of skilled tradespeople: maintenance workers, lineys, electricians, welders, painters and mechanics.

The Victorian Government’s commitment to transition to 95% renewable energy by 2035, facilitated by the investments of the SEC, will support 59,000 renewable energy jobs. A guaranteed 10% – or 6,000 – of those jobs will be apprenticeships and traineeships.

In this Budget, we’ll invest:

• $19 million for 10,000 students to undertake work experience placements in the clean energy sector and other priority sectors.
• $16 million to deliver two new clean energy worker training centres – one for hydrogen and one for wind to prepare workers for our emerging industries.
• $12 million to establish a SEC Centre of Training Excellence to coordinate and accredit courses in clean energy – and attend career nights across government schools.
• $7.5 million to create a new clean energy pathway for schools which includes introducing clean energy as a VCE Vocational Major from 2024.

Work will also begin on the Victorian Energy Jobs Plan that will identify the skills and training needed to support our renewable energy industries including offshore wind and solar.

We'll also support our TAFEs and training providers to help prepare our growing highly skilled workforce.

We're investing $116 million to build and operate six new Tech Schools across the state and establishing a Clean Energy Equipment Fund to improve hands‑on learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

And we’ll establish a $50 million TAFE Clean Energy Fund, as part of the $170 million Building Better TAFE Fund, the first investments will deliver new and upgraded facilities, including:

• Stage 2 of the Asia Pacific Renewable Energy Training Centre at Federation TAFE.
• A Clean Energy Centre at TAFE Gippsland's Morwell Campus.
• A Building Innovation and Design Centre at South West TAFE.

To make sure the workers we're training are guaranteed a long‑term pipeline of work, we will also institute local procurement requirements on government‑owned and supported renewable energy projects.