News

The purpose-built, state-of-the-art Port Augusta Technical College is officially open, paving the way for new opportunities for students and a new pipeline for future employees in regional South Australia.

The brand-new college is already full, with more than 200 enrolments.

The five brand-new facilities which will all be in operation next year, have been developed in conjunction with key employer partners to help shape students’ training and experience so they graduate job ready.

These opportunities have been developed in conjunction with key employer partners in the region, including BHP, SA Power Networks, the Australian Hotels Association, Local Health Networks, Hallett Group, and Jaymel Airconditioning.

The Port Augusta Technical College, designed to reflect the geography of the Upper Spencer Gulf region, is open to a wide range of students including those studying at schools in the local area along with those on Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, or in the Mid North, Far North and the APY Lands.

Students attend the college in week-long blocks, then return to their regular school to finish their other SACE subjects, before the next block of students arrive.

The number of weeks depends on their year level and chosen industry program.

The Technical College design includes spaces that mimic workplace environments, and the provision of cutting-edge technology to ensure students are gaining relevant practical skills.

It features four industry workshops including a commercial hospitality kitchen, a workshop for health and social support teaching, two for trades supporting construction, civil, resources and infrastructure subjects – along with computer aided design (CAD) suite, 3D printing for fabrication and prototypes, a co-creating space featuring virtual reality technology, two learning labs and an outdoor learning area.

Given its role in the wider region, the college also has short-stay accommodation for those who can’t travel every day, providing supervised, secure, overnight suites for up to 44 students.

In Year 12, students can start their apprenticeship or first year of a degree while completing their SACE — giving them a real head start in their career.

The establishment of the Port Augusta Technical College aligns with the priorities of the Upper Spencer Gulf Workforce Strategy, supporting a skilled workforce in a region critical to South Australia’s economic prosperity and industrial future.