Like many of Australia’s major cities, Perth offers its residents an outstanding quality of living. It’s made it to the top 10 of the Economist’s list of the world’s most liveable cities, and it’s been categorised as a world city, which means that it plays a vital role in the world’s economy. The high quality of the education in the city ensures that it maintains that prestigious status. TAFE in Perth provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to help the city reach its economic goals, as well as their personal professional goals, of course.
What TAFE Study Options are Available to me in Perth?
Most of the TAFE institutes in Western Australia (WA) offer TAFE courses from locations in Perth. This opens up a world of study opportunities to the people of Perth, who can do anything from TAFE short courses to degree courses.
Other options include classroom-based courses, online courses, on-the-job training, work placement, part-time courses, full-time courses, and blended learning.
Semester courses
Most of the TAFE courses (certificates – advanced diplomas) are offered on a semester basis. Modules or course units follow a logical order, so you can’t mix up your course as you see fit. One of the advantages of this is that you can build your course at your own pace, step-by-step if you choose.
Some short courses also follow a semester-based schedule; for example, you may only be able to do the introduction and intermediate levels of a certain courses in the first semester, and the advanced and expert courses in the second semester.
Short courses
Short courses can be divided into two categories: recreational (or creative) and professional (or industry). The two can overlap to a certain degree, however, as some of the courses that are deemed creative can be used in a professional context (think of the variety of sewing courses available) and some that are deemed industry can be used in a personal context (think of the beauty short courses available).
Short courses can last from anything between three hours and three months, sometimes more.
Online courses
These days, many people prefer to study via correspondence or distance learning. As a result, TAFE course providers in Perth have steadily increased the number of online courses available. Now, thanks to innovative technology that creates interactive and engaging virtual classrooms, and which allows massive amounts of study material to be transmitted via the web, even practical courses can be taken online. Although, they usually also include face-to-face requirements. Online is a great alternative, and definitely something worth considering, whether you live in Perth, or anywhere in Australia. You can access world- class education resources and online facilities to further your knowledge in a specific field.
Perth TAFE Institutions
You have some choices to make if you want to register for TAFE courses in Perth. This is due to the many institutes that have locations in the city.
North Metropolitan TAFE
The former Central Institute of Technology in Perth is now a part of TAFE WA, forming the North Metropolitan TAFE campus and buildings. This TAFE in WA is committed to providing students in Perth with quality TAFE qualifications that are highly relevant to their chosen jobs. It has established strong ties with industry leaders in several fields to ensure that course material is always current and immediately applicable. This is so students have confidence when they enter the real world and so employers benefit from new recruits who don’t have to undergo an adjustment period between school and work. Ties are particularly strong in the following industries:
- Aged Care
- Beauty Therapy
- Disability Workforce Training
- Finance & Property
- Local Government
- Manufacturing & Engineering
- Mining Industry
- Printing & Graphic Arts
- Sport, Recreation & Fitness
The courses on offer differ at the different campuses around Perth. Examples of the courses available at the different campuses include:
TAFE Leederville Campus
Leederville is an up-and-coming inner suburb of Perth and features a great lifestyle. Leederville campus is known as the Human Services hub of the North Metropolitan TAFE in WA. it includes the Comunity Learning Centre and provides training in children’s services, aged care, disability, youth work and mental health. This campus also puts a high focus on music studies and includes a recording studio, a fully operational live music venue.
Perth (Northbridge) Campus
The Perth northbridge campus is the largest of TAFE North Metropolitan. it’s often referred to as the Knowledge Industries Precinct and specialises in four main areas which each have their own building and facilities. The areas of specialisation that it offers students includes:
- Building and engineering
- Creative Industries
- Travel and tourism
- English language and other languages
TAFE East Perth Campus
Located close to the central hub of the city, this campus boasts a great lifestyle, with pubs, clubs and bars as well as city sites all in close range. The East Perth campus offers training and education in areas that are greatly important to the State’s economy. These include mining, renewable energy, building, surveying and science and technology. It also has a wide range of engineering courses on offer, including computer, electronic, mechanical and systems engineering.
TAFE Mount Lawley Campus
The Mount Lawley Campus offers a number of health-related services and provides many courses across these types of fields. Some of the most note- worthy inclusions is a simulated hospital environment to assist student’s understanding of what the industry really involves.
TAFE Nedlands Campus
All dentistry- related courses can be found in the Oral Health Centre, located in the Midlands. This centre is an alliance between TAFE North Metropolitan, the University of Western Australia and Curtin University.
TAFE Bulga Campus
This campus is now one of the major hubs for building and construction training in not only Perth but WA. It specialises in providing builder registration qualifications in a number of fields, including bricklaying, plumbing, masonry and tiling. Students are able to access high- class training facilities and technologies to help them develop a competitive edge. Other areas of study include business, administration, hairdressing, community services and IT.
TAFE Clarkson Campus
The North Metropolitan TAFE Clarkson campus is located in the north of Perth and is easily accessible via public transport. It offers a great range of facilities to service all areas of training and education in a variety of trades. plstering, bricklaying, carpentry, metal fabrication and electrical are all areas this campus specialise in. It boasts a great range of workshop and trade spaces to apply learning in a supervised environment.
Joondalup (Injune Way) Campus
Joondalup provides the best automotive and mechanical training to students who want to undergo a TAFE course in this area. it includes the Automotive Training Centre so students can use their knowledge in a hands-on way, and enable them to develop the necessary practical skills needed in this industry. it’s modern facilities also provide a great range of training through its live mechanic workshop, where you can use the equipment on all types of Automotives, all of which you’ll need to know how to service in a real work- setting.
Joondalup (McLarty Avenue) Campus
This portion of the Joondalup campus revolves around health and wellbeing. It’s world- class simulated hospital environment gives students a competitive edge over others in the industry allowing them to get a proper understanding of what it’s like to work in and around a hospital in a great range of jobs. It also features a gym and fitness centre to enable students undergoing a personal training of fitness course to hone their skills. This is a great campus for anyone looking at a nursing career, but also has training across sports, recreation, fitness, beauty therapy and allied health fields.
Midland Campus
Sitting right in the middle of Perth’s Swan Valley region, the Midland Campus focuses on a number of areas of expertise and offers a variety of courses across all subject types. In addition to the following specialities, it also provides education in horticulture and land management.
- Fluid power
- Metals
- Engineering
- Signwriting
- Building and construction
- Business and finance
- Education and childcare
- Electrical trades
- Computing
- Adult literacy
Perth for Students
Perth is one of the sunniest cities in the world, which is only one reason why students flock to the city. It’s got a great public transport system that ferries students to and from classes and any other activities and attractions that the city has to offer. And there are plenty of activities and attractions. Perth boasts a vast number of sports clubs, gyms, museums, galleries, theatres, restaurants, cinemas, beaches, parks, and gardens, so you’ve got options no matter how you like to spend your downtime.
