A brand-new TAFE Queensland has opened its doors in Robina, and its unique campus is an Australian first.
The campus is the first Vocational Education and Training (VET) in the country that has been designed from the ground up to be sustainable in building, fit-out, procurement, curriculum, operations and culture.
There are already around 700 students enrolled at the campus, and it will eventually see over 2,000 students studying there each year.
The campus offers studies in commercial cookery, hospitality, early childhood education and care, information technology, hair and beauty, sport and fitness, and more.
Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer says it’s fantastic for the city.
“Not only is the door open to a world of training opportunities and job prospects here at Robina, but students have the opportunity to learn in a facility that has been recognised on the world stage,” Minister Farmer said.
“The first cohort is due to graduate in 2023 and will help grow the Queensland workforce in critical industries.”
The campus has been recognised globally after it was awarded silver in the Construction category at the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics 2022 Awards of Excellence.
Image: Suuplied | Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer cutting the ribon at the TAFE Robina campus today.
Modern design and practices have been used throughout the building’s construction and fit out to meet sustainability ambitions and reduce greenhouse emissions through 250 solar panels, recycled materials and ecological finishes, sensor-activated lighting, solar glass and a rainwater-fed automated irrigation system.
On the Gold Coast, TAFE has boomed with an increase of more than 24% in student enrolments in the last financial year.
TAFE Queensland’s General Manager Karen Dickson believes the new major campus is the perfect addition to the rapidly growing area.
“We’re just growing out of the facilities we’re currently in, so we needed another campus,” Ms Dickinson says.
“It was thought that Robina was going to be the best place to put a campus with a large population of youth and lots of opportunities for us to grow and support that community.”
The State Government provided $10 million towards the fit-out costs of the campus to meet the needs of the fast-growing region.
The five-story building has flexible multi-purpose training spaces, teaching rooms, student areas, break-out zones as well as live training facilities including a restaurant, café, hair and beauty salons, fitness centre and event venue.
It’s now the fifth TAFE on the Gold Coast – with other facilities located in Coomera, Ashmore, Coolangatta and Southport.
