![Cobar is excited to get a new mining school. Cobar is excited to get a new mining school.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/beVCrmsvzezepMUFQXXRTM/62fcd94b-7c6b-4682-934a-335ed4905fb3.jpg/r0_0_1181_727_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The NSW Government will build eight new TAFE campuses in regional NSW where TAFE has not had a major footprint before.
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One of the projects is a mining school at Cobar with already a working party in Cobar this week working to get the school up and running by next year.
Cobar Mayor Lilliane Brady said it was a "great day for Cobar" with the new mining school run by TAFE to bring in young people from around the western division to learn mining skills.
The major mines in western NSW are involved in the project with plans to build a new campus where young apprentices will stay and learn skills. Up to 15 mines in western NSW could benefit from the new skills training facility.
The new TAFE $62 million investment revealed to The Land, will see campuses built at Batemans Bay, Byron Bay, Cobar, Hay, Jindabyne, Nambucca Heads, Nelson Bay and West Wyalong.
The lack of TAFE services and courses was a major bugbear raised in last year's Next Crop forums conducted by The Land. Cobar was one of the towns where residents decried the lack of courses, and the ability to keep young people in town.
Now it seems the Government has listened. An official from the Premier's Department was one of the people involved in the working party meeting in Cobar on Wednesday.
West Wyalong will also see its TAFE access expanded with its TAFE base redeveloped from offering just 150 courses to over 1000 courses as part of a new Connected Learning Centre. Bland Mayor Brian Monaghan said it was a huge fillip for his town and "terrific" for young people in the area. "This will allow us to compete with everyone else," he said.
The Minister responsible for TAFE NSW, Adam Marshall said the Government would invest $62 million to construct eight new TAFE campuses in rural and regional locations that have never had a major TAFE presence before.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals are embarking on the largest ever expansion of TAFE NSW’s footprint across rural and regional NSW,” Mr Marshall said.
“TAFE campuses are the beating hearts of our country communities and provide essential access to the education and training people need to get a job and get ahead.
“Our regional expansion program will take TAFE NSW to communities and places on the map that have never had a major TAFE presence before.
“This will improve training and job opportunities for regional communities and builds on the 14 new regional campuses that have already been delivered since 2017.”
He said the Government had already invested $64 million to deliver 14 new or upgraded TAFE campuses in regional NSW since 2017.
NSW Labor has announced its TAFE policy includes a 10-year plan to provide 600,000 students with free TAFE courses to help reduce skills shortages.
The scheme will cover certificate-level courses in trades where there are skill shortages, such as childcare, aged care and disability care along with apprenticeships in fields such as plumbing and electrical trades.