What’s Happening?
A new Electrotechnology Centre has opened at TAFE Queensland’s Alexandra Hills campus to support electrical apprentices and pre-apprenticeship students.
The centre includes modern learning areas and equipment designed to reflect current electrical industry practices.
It replaces old and unused buildings at the campus with training spaces designed around current industry needs. Importantly, apprentices can now complete specialised capstone testing at Alexandra Hills. The assessment is the final requirement before eligible apprentices can complete their qualification.
The centre is also expected to offer out-of-hours courses as demand grows. This would help apprentices fit their training around work commitments.
Why It Matters
The new centre increases the amount of electrical training that can be completed locally. TAFE Queensland already offers electrotechnology training at Alexandra Hills alongside construction, automotive, plumbing and several other study areas.
Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said the facility would support Queensland’s need for more skilled electrical workers.
“Labor’s legacy was a dire construction worker shortage which put major projects and budgets at risk, but the Crisafulli Government is delivering the skills training and job opportunities for every Queenslander who wants to help build the future of the State,” Minister Bates said.
“Queensland is entering a construction super-cycle thanks to the Crisafulli Government’s generational infrastructure pipeline and the opportunities for our home-grown electrical workers will be incredible. This facility has capacity to host 84 electrical students on any given day and will help support the hundreds of apprentices training at TAFE Queensland’s Alexandra Hills campus. The Crisafulli Government is delivering the biggest expansion to TAFE’s physical footprint in decades, and this facility will complement the four Centres of Excellent we’re delivering around the State.”
By The Numbers
- The new Electrotechnology Centre represents a $5 million investment in electrical training facilities at the Alexandra Hills campus.
- The facility has capacity for 84 electrical students on any given day, while supporting hundreds of apprentices training at the campus.
- Electrical apprenticeship starts across Queensland have risen 15.7 per cent, while the government previously cited a predicted construction workforce shortfall of 50,000 workers.
The Queensland Government also said apprenticeship completions reached a record level during 2025-26. It said the previously predicted construction workforce shortfall had eased significantly.
Local Impact
One of the main benefits is being able to complete more training closer to home. Member for Capalaba Russell Field said this could reduce the need for apprentices to travel elsewhere for qualifications.
“This is fantastic news because we’re going to have hundreds more local apprentices who are able to train and get signed off without having to travel to get their qualifications,” Mr Field said.
Member for Oodgeroo Amanda Stoker said the centre added another specialised facility to the Alexandra Hills campus.
“This was already a tremendous institution for delivering the skills and training Queenslanders need, and this new facility is going to take it to the next level,” Ms Stoker said.
Member for Redlands Rebecca Young linked the new centre with continued population and construction activity across the Redlands Coast.
“Our region is absolutely booming, and having more electrical workers training here and getting to work on building sites around the Redlands Coast is going to be phenomenal,” Ms Young said.
Zoom In
A key part of the centre is its ability to provide specialised capstone testing.
The capstone assessment is the final stage apprentices must complete before gaining their electrical qualification. Providing the assessment at Alexandra Hills is intended to ease an existing bottleneck for apprentices waiting to be signed off.
TAFE Queensland Chief Executive Officer Tim Rawlings said the centre would increase training capacity while giving students practical experience.
“The new Electrotechnology Centre expands our capacity to train the next generation of electricians in an environment that reflects current industry-standard practice, while giving students access to contemporary equipment, hands-on learning and experienced educators,” he said.
TAFE Queensland currently lists the Certificate II in Electrotechnology Career Start among courses available through Alexandra Hills. The course provides an entry pathway towards electrical apprenticeships.
Zoom Out
The Alexandra Hills project forms part of a broader Queensland Government push to increase trade training capacity.
The government has linked the investment to workforce shortages across construction and other skilled trades. It has also said four Centres of Excellence are being delivered across Queensland as part of its expansion of TAFE facilities.
Alexandra Hills campus already provides training across electrotechnology, construction, plumbing, automotive, nursing and other fields. The new centre adds more specialist electrical training to that mix while increasing the number of apprentices who can progress locally.
What To Look For Next?
As demand for electrical training grows, the centre could begin offering more out-of-hours courses for working apprentices.
Course availability and enrolment information can be found through TAFE Queensland’s Alexandra Hills campus page. The Queensland Government also provides information through its Right Skills for Queensland program.
