4 February 2026
South Metropolitan TAFE has been awarded an Applied Research Grant through the TAFE Centre of Excellence Clean Energy Batteries(opens in a new tab) , positioning the college at the forefront of clean energy and battery energy systems manufacturing training in Australia.
The grant will fund applied research into how vocational education and training (VET) can help sustain Australia’s clean energy battery manufacturing sector. The research will support the development of industry-aligned training, ensuring students gain the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the growing clean energy workforce, while employers benefit from job-ready graduates.
For students, this means access to industry-aligned training and hands-on learning in battery energy storage systems (BESS) assembly and manufacturing. This will better prepare graduates for careers in clean energy and BESS manufacturing.
Lecturers and academic staff will also deepen their technical expertise, ensuring training reflects the latest technologies and industry practices. The project includes close collaboration with TAFE Queensland, enabling shared insights and innovative approaches to meeting national BESS industry training needs.
For industry, the project supports the development of graduates with skills tailored to the evolving requirements of the clean energy and battery manufacturing sectors. The grant application was supported by Magellan Power, a BESS manufacturer in Western Australia and Queensland. Additional employers and industry involvement are sought for the project.
The grant is part of the TAFE Centre of Excellence Clean Energy Batteries’ national program, supported by the Australian and Queensland Governments, which develops targeted training solutions to meet the skills needs of the renewable energy and battery manufacturing industries.
Through this initiative, South Metropolitan TAFE is helping build a future-ready workforce while contributing to Australia’s clean energy and advanced manufacturing goals.