28 November 2025
TAFE is firmly at the centre of the state’s economic future following the Premier Jacina Allan’s $8.1m TAFE-based “AI-career conversion” investment and $5.5m Data Centre Action Plan.
The Victorian TAFE Association welcomes the Premier’s announcement. TAFEs are already positioned at the forefront of training innovation, including providing qualifications in advanced manufacturing, engineering, IT and cyber security, and the trades needed to build data centres.
Public TAFEs will now be at the heart of not only training workers to build and operate data centres, but upskilling professionals across the workforce – in areas like business, IT, finance, accounting and marketing.
The public TAFE Network is the most effective lever available to Victoria to close skills gaps and address workforce demands. Connections between TAFEs and local small and medium enterprises will enable us to provide quality, innovative training at scale across the state.
Investing in public TAFE ensures that the benefits of technological advancement are shared across the community, underpinning Victoria’s long-term economic and social prosperity.
Quotes attributable to Alex White, CEO of the Victorian TAFE Association:
“We welcome the Premier’s recognition that to build a future-ready economy, you must invest in the people who build and operate it, and the TAFEs that train them.
“AI will impact every element of our workforce – and our TAFEs are the place to train the workers that will deliver and maintain our data centres as well as upskill workers across Victoria.
“Today’s public TAFEs are at the forefront of technological change, innovation and industry partnerships. We provide practical, job-ready skills that ensures everyday people have secure careers for the long-term in the face of rapid technological change.
“A strong, well-funded public TAFE system is essential to our state’s prosperity. By putting the TAFE Network at the centre it its data centre and AI strategy, the Government is ensuring that Victoria has the cohesive, high-quality training system we need.”