The NSW government will recruit 253 new TAFE teachers across 12 months, with six to be employed in Albury. 

A TAFE NSW spokesman said TAFE was recruiting additional teachers in areas where they were experiencing strong enrolments such as carpentry, plumbing, civil construction, health and early childhood.

The minister responsible for TAFE, Adam Marshall, said vocational education was experiencing strong demand, with data revealing TAFE NSW had experienced a 19 per cent rise in enrolments for electrician training in the past year and an 11 per cent increase for carpenters or plumbers. 

Member for Albury Greg Aplin said the Teacher Recruitment Taskforce showed the government backed local TAFEs.

“These new teachers are another local win and will deliver education and training support to our local students to help them upskill or get a new job,” Mr Aplin said.

“This extraordinary investment in TAFE teachers will open up new opportunities for students and improve access to the world class teaching and skills training TAFE is renowned for.”

Mr Aplin said the announcement of new staff followed a $3.7 million investment in TAFE NSW Corowa Connected Learning Centre.

Mr Marshall said the teachers would strengthen TAFE NSW and enabled it to continue to meet growing demand in trades.

“The NSW government is getting out on the front foot and coordinating an unprecedented recruitment drive for 253 new frontline TAFE teachers in response to this demand,” he said

“Regional and rural NSW will benefit greatly from this initiative, receiving 112 of the new TAFE teachers.

“The NSW government’s reforms to NSW TAFE are all about funneling resources into frontline teaching while reducing back office duplication.”