South Metropolitan TAFE's Mandurah campus is now delivering specialty courses at its new state-of-the-art facility, training skilled workers for the Peel region's bustling hospitality and tourism industries.
The $16.9 million Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre is a key project in the State Government's record investment to upgrade TAFE infrastructure across Western Australia. Aspiring chefs, baristas, front-of-house staff and event managers studying commercial cookery, tourism and event management now have access to practical, on-the-job training using modern facilities and equipment.
The new facilities include:
- a live-works restaurant, complete with production kitchen and dining room where locals can enjoy lunchtime or evening meals;
- two full-sized industry-standard training kitchens;
- a cookery/barista demonstration classroom;
- an information technology classroom that can also be used for tourism and event management training, and
- student hub.
The building also has industry-standard hair and beauty training facilities, with dedicated training spaces for beauty therapy and massage, as well as a new hair salon open to the public. The striking artwork on the façade is courtesy of local Noongar artists Maitland Hill and Kerry Stack, who worked in collaboration with glass artist Rick Vermey to create a large digital collage. Titled 'Djena Bidi Koora Koora Mila – Pathways from Past to Future', the artwork celebrates the human, animal and plant life of the rivers, estuaries, inlet and ocean in the greater Peel Region.
South Metropolitan TAFE's Mandurah campus is located in the Peel Education and Training precinct, neighbouring Murdoch University and John Tonkin College. Construction was carried out by Western Australian commercial builder EMCO Building, while Hunt Architects designed the building. The State Government is investing $243.3 million to upgrade TAFE colleges across WA, ensuring students are learning in industry-standard, first-class facilities.
"Tourism and hospitality are crucial industries for the Peel region, bringing in visitors and providing jobs for local people, said Premier Roger Cook. "This new $16.9 million facility is a one-stop-shop for specialist training in the region, and its modern and practical design will ensure it becomes a popular space for the community too. This is a fantastic new training centre for Mandurah that has all the contemporary facilities required to help people become job-ready workers who can step straight into the local workforce."
Training Minister Simone McGurk added "South Metropolitan TAFE's Mandurah campus has seen strong growth this year, with enrolments in hair and beauty and hospitality and tourism courses on the rise. The new facilities are industry standard, ensuring locals can access the very best learning opportunities in the heart of the Peel region, close to where they live and work. Locals can also enjoy an affordable meal at the restaurant, and then treat themselves to a low-cost manicure, massage or haircut – all while supporting the workers of the future. "The new centre will provide career pathways for aspiring chefs, event managers and baristas, as well as hairdressers, beauty and massage therapists, delivering a pipeline of skilled local workers for local jobs."
Mandurah MLA David Templeman also added "The delivery of such a quality facility in the Peel Region will provide fantastic development opportunities for locals. Particularly young people looking to further their training but wanting to stay close to home. Mandurah and the Peel Region continue to experience population growth while also servicing many people from the South West. The new facilities at the Mandurah TAFE campus will support visitors and students alike. I also wish to acknowledge the contemporary design of the facility and the way in which the storytelling and art of local Noongar artists Maitland Hill and Kerry Stack are incorporated. It is a facility we can all be proud of."