South Metropolitan TAFE Kwinana says RAC’s donation of its Intellibus will help train Western Australia’s next generation of automotive workers.
The Intellibus was Australia’s first and longest trial of a driverless vehicle, doing more than 38,000km across Western Australia (WA) and carrying 28,755 passengers.
The autonomous vehicle (AV) will be a training resource for apprentices, trainees and students studying light automotive trades such as mechanical, electrical and air-conditioning.
It complements the WA state government’s A$25 million investment in new equipment being rolled out across WA’s TAFE network.
The Intellibus will be a valuable tool for students learning how to de-power and re-power electric vehicles, and as an introduction to AV technologies, says the WA state government.
WA’s clean energy investment pipeline is worth around $200 billion, and projections show the sector is expected to generate around 350,000 jobs from 2025 to 2050, it says.
Under the new National Skills Agreement, the Cook Government has lodged a proposal with the Commonwealth Government to establish a Clean Energy National Centre of Excellence in WA, as it works to position WA at the forefront of the global clean energy transition.
The state government has significantly reduced course fees for automotive, engineering and mining courses via the “Lower Fees, Local Skills and Fee Free” initiatives.
“The RAC Intellibus trial charted new territory in the automated vehicle space in Australia – now it will help prepare TAFE students with valuable hands-on skills,” says minister Hannah Beazley.
“This donation comes at a time of growing demand for automated vehicle technology in Australia and worldwide.
“Increasing the number of apprentices training as electricians, engineers, motor mechanics, mechanical fitters, and machinists is vital in ensuring we have the skills needed for WA to reach its target of net zero by 2050.”
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