Western Sydney Airport skills exchange program announced

A partnership between TAFE New South Wales and Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, will see training opportunities provided for construction workers building the project. 

On the job-training will be established at the airport construction site, where up to 250 workers a year will be equipped with skills in areas including earthmoving, civil construction, safety and traffic control, with the potential to increase numbers as the construction project grows.

Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure, Alan Tudge, said the announcement will benefit hundreds of people who are already working on the airport’s delivery.

“This incredible initiative will provide construction workers with a great opportunity to enhance their skills on the job,” Mr. Tudge said.

“Western Sydney International is a unique project and one of the largest civil engineering projects underway in Australia.

“It is important that it provides the chance for people to skill-up while on the job and learn from the delivery of this important project.”

Stuart Ayres, NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, said the TAFE NSW Skills Exchange program is the first step in delivering on the Western Sydney City Deal.

NSW Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, Geoff Lee, said the Western Sydney International target of 20 per cent learning workers, combined with the skills exchange initiative, would provide opportunities for workers looking to develop their construction careers.

Construction of Western Sydney International airport commenced on 24 September 2018 and is expected to be finished in 2026.