The Western Australian Government’s investment in skills development and TAFE infrastructure is delivering results in the Kimberley region, with hundreds of students at North Regional TAFE’s (NRT) Broome campus taking up training opportunities aligned with local job demand.
Almost two-thirds of the 599 publicly funded enrolments at the campus are in fee-free and low-fee courses, underlining the importance of accessible education in regional areas.
The government initiative is part of a broader strategy to make vocational training more affordable and relevant to industry needs, as revealed in a news release.
WA Premier Roger Cook said the state’s TAFE colleges are central to preparing a job-ready workforce. “WA’s TAFE colleges are the heart of our State’s vocational training system and they play a crucial role in skilling the workforce for the communities they serve,” he said.
The Broome campus offers training in sectors experiencing strong local demand, including building and construction, hospitality, tourism, and the care sector.
In the first term of 2025, more than 110 publicly funded enrolments were recorded in health, education, and care courses such as School Based Education Support, Early Childhood Education and Care, Community Services, and Youth Work.
Premier Cook said the government’s efforts to reduce financial barriers to training are making a real difference.
“At a time when every dollar counts, I’m proud that my government can help reduce the barrier to training, by offering fee-free and low-fee courses.”
The campus has also seen growth in maritime training, with 53 publicly funded enrolments in Maritime Operations courses and skill sets aimed at building the local maritime workforce.
In building and construction, more than 55 publicly funded enrolments have been made, including in Carpentry, Civil Construction Plant Operations and Construction Pathways.
Students across the Kimberley studying civil construction are also benefiting from the State Government’s $810,000 investment in new machinery through the Modern Equipment Program.
The equipment includes a tip truck and trailer, tandem roller, loader, excavator, and skid-steer—tools that mirror what students will use on the job.
Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the government’s investments are aimed at delivering industry-relevant training across the state.
“North Regional TAFE’s modern Broome campus is the largest training facility in the Kimberley and is well-positioned to provide high-quality training so locals can skill, upskill and reskill,” she said.
The Cook Government has committed an additional $33.8 million over the next four years to expand the Modern Equipment Program, which will cover training areas such as electrical, health, driver training, and automation.
Alongside equipment upgrades, the Broome campus has also undergone significant infrastructure improvements, supported by the Government’s record $250 million investment in WA TAFE colleges.
New state-of-the-art facilities in hospitality, hair and beauty, and student services were officially opened in June 2023.
Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna said the impact is already visible in the community. “It’s great to see so many people taking advantage of free and low-fee training opportunities at North Regional TAFE so they can get the skills they need to land quality jobs,” she said.
