Muswellbrook Shire Council has welcomed a NSW Government investment in local electric vehicle training, saying the funding will deliver real benefits for students and the Upper Hunter’s workforce.
The NSW Government is investing $53,900 to purchase three electric vehicles – two used and one new – to support hands-on automotive training at the Muswellbrook TAFE campus.
Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Small Business, Emily Suvaal MLC (pictured, second from left), visited Muswellbrook this week on behalf of Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan, to make the local funding announcement. She met with Mayor, Jeff Drayton (pictured, far left), for lunch at the AGL Muswellbrook Art Gallery Training Cafe before touring the TAFE campus and sitting down with local teachers at the Royal Hotel Muswellbrook.
Minister Suvaal said the investment was about making sure regional students were equipped for the jobs of the future.
“It was a genuine pleasure spending time in Muswellbrook – meeting with the Mayor, visiting the campus and sitting down with local teachers. This is a community that really cares about the future of its young people,” she said.
“This investment ensures students in Muswellbrook have access to the same hands-on training as anywhere else in the state.”
The vehicles will be integrated into the existing training fleet, giving students hands-on experience with modern EV systems including diagnostics and servicing – skills increasingly sought by employers as electric vehicles become more common on Australian roads.
Council noted the investment also supports the Upper Hunter’s broader economic transition, helping build a local pipeline of skilled workers in emerging industries.
Mayor Jeff Drayton said the visit was a welcome opportunity to speak directly with the Parliamentary Secretary about the region’s needs.
“It was great to have Emily Suvaal MLC here in person – not just for the announcement but taking the time out get a real feel for what is happening in Muswellbrook.”
“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,” he said.
