The Australian Defence Force (Defence) knows where to go for world-class aerospace engineering training: TAFE NSW – Riverina Institute. The Institute has one of the country’s biggest training contracts with Defence at the RAAF Base in Wagga Wagga, and the 14-year, multi-million dollar aerospace engineering training contract has just been extended until 2013.
Colin Bradford’s 14 years heading Riverina Institute’s National Aerospace Training Centre of Excellence (NATCOE) has seen it grow from 35 staff to the largest aerospace engineering training organisation in the Southern Hemisphere. There are now 121 full-time staff at the centre and a further 30 to 35 services instructors working within Defence.
Rosemary Campbell, Director, Riverina Institute, sees NATCOE as an asset for the Institute and the region.
‘NATCOE staff make a major contribution to the local economy and our Institute capability,’ Ms Campbell said. ‘The contract extension will allow TAFE NSW – Riverina Institute to strategically invest in infrastructure and training support needs for delivery of the latest high-technology defence training.’
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Each year, up to 800 trainees from the Air Force, Navy, Army and Defence International Exchange Program graduate from NATCOE. Boeing Australia and Qantas also use it for engineering training. NATCOE is in the top 10 of the Australian Defence Magazine’s Annual Top 20 Defence Small to Medium Enterprises Survey.
Mr Bradford said that the centre would need to recontest its Defence contract in four years and part of his job is to think strategically about Defence training needs over the next 20 years.
‘The program is accepted as the exemplar for aerospace training, and Defence are happy with the effective partnering philosophy of NATCOE and our trainers,’ Mr Bradford said.
Mr Bradford said that living and working conditions at the Base are outstanding. ‘We rarely lose staff,’ he said. ‘They don’t want to leave.’
It could be the attitude of the students, who have been through a rigorous selection program prior to entering training, which makes the difference.
The 800 students live at the Base for the 12 to 18 months of their training. ‘They are housed and fed and they’re paid to undertake the training. At the end they have a career for life,’ adds Bradford.
‘And because of the Defence culture, their attitude and discipline is outstanding. It makes it much easier for staff and instructors.’
