North Coast TAFE will be receiving $13 million of federal funding for five allied health training ‘hubs’.
Lyne MP, Rob Oakeshott, announced the funding last Friday at the Jobs and Skills Expo at Port Macquarie.
North Coast TAFE Institute director, Elizabeth McGregor, said the TAFE applied for the funding because there were ‘clear opportunities in the region in employment in health care and that there would be high demand for future workers skilled in a range of allied health requirements’.
‘The hubs will be equipped with simulation and audio visual equipment, and will be connected to each other so that learners in one hub – or perhaps their own home or workplace – can participate via technology in a class being conducted in another hub,’ said Ms McGregor.
Ms McGregor said that the money will support ‘connected delivery across our region with hubs going into the communities of Port Macquarie, Taree, Coffs Harbour, Lismore and Kingscliff’.
‘We expect that the hubs will deliver training for a variety of jobs that are likely to be in demand – not only dental and pathology assistants, but also other allied health assistance roles in areas like podiatry, physical therapy, dietetics, sterilisation and so on,’ said Ms McGregor.
