Morwell TAFE to train clean energy workforce

Millions in funding to prepare Gippsland for thousands of new jobs.

Author

Jacob Wallace
April 22, 2026

On Thursday morning, the federal and Victorian governments will announce $15 million to build a new renewable energy digital training facility at the TAFE Gippsland Morwell campus.

What’s happening: The Federal Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles, and the Victorian Minister for Skills and TAFE, Colin Brooks, will announce that the Morwell campus will host a new training facility called the Renewable Energy TAFE Centre of Excellence.

The new campus will train apprentices in renewable energy technologies, including smart grids and networks, and home electrification services.

The $15 million for the Morwell campus is part of a $50 million state-federal investment into renewable energy training. TAFE Chadstone is getting $10 million to upgrade its campus, with another $25 million for staffing and equipment at these two facilities.

The new facilities will allow teachers to train people remotely from other states.

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Gippsland focused

CEO of Gippsland Climate Change Network, Darren McCubbin, told the Monitor it was vitally important that new industries support local jobs.

“We don't want to have people flying into this industry. We want to make sure that it's homegrown,” McCubbin said.

“A lot of young people go to Melbourne for opportunities; we want young people to see an advantage in staying in Gippsland, joining the local footy club and becoming a part of renewables generation.”

Why here?

Gippsland is set to play a major part in Australia’s shift from fossil fuels, and new renewable energy projects are expected to require thousands of workers.

Gippsland’s offshore wind project will create some 15,000 jobs during the construction phase and 7,500 ongoing jobs, according to the federal government.

  • In comparison, when Hazelwood mine closed in 2017 it was providing approximately 1,050 jobs (750 direct employees and 300 contractors).

Offshore wind turbine construction is expected to begin in late 2027. The state government expects some of the turbines will be operational in 2030.