New training centre opened
Training in the Peel region has taken a step forward, with Challenger Institute of Technology officially launching its Health and Community Services Training Centre.
The $6 million state-of-the-art centre in Mandurah delivers training in nursing, aged care, children's services and education.
It is hoped the centre will produce a taskforce ready to handle the predicted rise of residents aged over 70 in the Peel region.
Students will be equipped with purpose-built simulated training areas encompassing the latest industry-standard technology, including a hospital ward for aged care, sterilisation and patient transfer areas, and a childcare facility complete with playground and virtual nursery.
Training and Workforce Development Minister Liza Harvey, who attended last Wednesday's launch, said the centre was an important piece of infrastructure which would help meet the increasing demand for skilled community services workers.
"Population projections for Peel show the number of people over the age of 70 will increase from 14 per cent, as it is now, to about 20 per cent by 2026," she said.
"So that is where investment in facilities like this ... which include nursing and aged care services training opportunities are an integral part of the future of the Peel region." Challenger Institute governing council chairwoman Paddi Creevey said the new facility was a credit to the collaborative effort of all involved.
"The southern corridor really has enormous challenges in terms of the number of students who go through ATAR, the high rates of unemployment across the board, particularly for young people, and we want to make sure training provides opportunities for them," she said.
The new training facility was funded by the WA Government's Royalties for Regions program through the Skills Training Initiative.
It provides training for up to 400 students across the south-metropolitan area.
