TAFE NSW Muswellbrook is set to add three electric vehicles to its training fleet after the State Government committed $53,900 to support hands-on automotive training at the campus.
Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Small Business Emily Suvaal MLC visited Muswellbrook, representing Minister for Skills Steve Whan, to make the announcement. She met with Mayor Jeff Drayton for lunch at the AGL Muswellbrook Art Gallery Training Cafe before touring the TAFE campus and meeting with local teachers at the Royal Hotel Muswellbrook.
The funding will purchase two used and one new electric vehicle, which will be integrated into the existing training fleet. Students will gain practical experience with modern EV systems including diagnostics and servicing, skills employers are increasingly seeking as electric vehicles become more common on Australian roads.
Ms Suvaal said the investment was about ensuring regional students had access to quality training.
“This investment ensures students in Muswellbrook have access to the same hands-on training as anywhere else in the state,” she said.
“It was a genuine pleasure spending time in Muswellbrook. This is a community that really cares about the future of its young people.”
Mayor Jeff Drayton welcomed both the investment and the personal visit.
“It was great to have Emily Suvaal MLC here in person. Not just for the announcement but taking the time to get a real feel for what is happening in Muswellbrook,” he said.
“Regional communities can’t afford to be left behind as the economy changes. Investments like this, in skills, in local infrastructure, in our young people, are how we stay competitive and connected to what’s happening nationally.”
Council noted the investment also supports the Upper Hunter’s broader economic transition, helping build a pipeline of skilled workers in emerging industries. Muswellbrook Shire Council used the occasion to encourage all levels of government to visit the region and see firsthand the opportunities and challenges facing the Hunter.
