The Polytechnic of Western Australia
 | |
Former names |
Swan TAFE, South East Metropolitan College of TAFE (SEMC), Midland College of TAFE, Perth Technical School |
|---|---|
| Type | Vocational Education and Training |
| Location | Perth, WA, Australia |
| Website | www.polytechnic.wa.edu.au |
Polytechnic West[2] (formerly Swan TAFE[3]) is a State Training Provider[4] established under section 35 of the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996 (WA)[5] based in Perth, Western Australia. Polytechnic West is one of the largest training providers in the state and teaches and instructs in a range of areas from trade-based apprenticeships to business and finance to aviation across its eight campuses in Bentley, Carlisle, Midland, Thornlie, Balga, Jandakot and two Armadale campuses.
Polytechnic West has existed under various guises since the early 20th century, when Perth Technical School was established to train professional and skilled workers to for the new railway technologies that supported the state's agriculture and mining industries.[6] The most recent change was from Swan TAFE in 2009 as part of a government initiative in which State Training Providers were granted more independence and encouraged to "reinvent themselves to meet the requirements of the volatile economic climate".[7] The Polytechnic's reinvention has seen it branch out into areas normally untouched by State Training Providers (STP), and was the first STP to teach Higher Education.
Polytechnic West was Western Australia's Large Training Provider of the Year in 2011.
Courses
Polytechnic West offers over 400 courses in areas including:
- Access, English & Languages
- Aerospace
- Animals & Horticulture
- Automotive
- Building, Construction & Furniture
- Business & Finance
- Community, Children & Education
- Creative & Design
- Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunications
- Engineering, Metals & Mining
- Hospitality & Food Trades
- Occupational Health & Fitness
- Information Technology
- Refrigeration, Plumbing & Gas
Polytechnic West award courses are in line with the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF). The AQTF establishes standard titles and levels for courses across Australia. The qualifications that are currently offered include:
- Associate Degree
- Advanced Diploma
- Diploma
- Certificate IV
- Certificate III
- Certificate II
- Certificate I
Campuses and facilities
Polytechnic West currently has 8 campuses.[8] They are:
- Armadale
- Armadale Equine Training Centre
- Balga
- Bentley
- Carlisle
- Jandakot
- Midland
- Thornlie
Notes
- ↑ "30-10-2009 WA Govt. Gazette" (PDF).
- ↑ "30-10-2009 WA Govt. Gazette" (PDF).
- ↑ Celebrating a century of training at Midland TAFE. A brief history of the Midland campus of Swan TAFE. Midland College of TAFE -- History. InterSector, 2 April 2004, p.4-5,
- ↑ "Dept. Training and Workforce Development".
- ↑ "Vocational Education and Training Act 1996" (PDF).
- ↑ "The first decade 1900-1909" http://library.swantafe.wa.edu.au/history/1900-1909.htm
- ↑ "'TAFE' Brand on ice out west" http://www.saveourcolleges.com/resources/CampusReview_1Feb10_TAFEBrandOnIce.pdf
- ↑ List of campuses