Solar Victoria is offering fully funded training to electricians and electrical engineers wanting to gain specialist solar industry skills. The $11 million training and workforce development package is part of a suite of new training initiatives from the Victorian Government organisation – a portfolio of the Department of Environment, Water, Land and Planning – that is aiming to enhance Victoria’s clean energy workforce.
Enrolments have opened for the free “Upskilling for Electricians and Electrical Engineers” training that will boost PV and battery design, and installation skills, among electrical workers, and is available for all electricians and electrical engineers, not just those working for Solar Victoria approved businesses.
Any eligible solar professionals keen to develop skills and knowledge to become a qualified solar PV designer and installer, or a battery system designer and installer, are encouraged to enrol, including existing electricians wanting to upskill in solar, and electrical engineers wanting to increase their knowledge to design solar and battery systems.
“Victoria’s solar and renewable energy sector is booming and is expected to grow exponentially during the next decade as we transition to a clean energy future,” says Solar Victoria CEO Stan Krpan.
“Solar Victoria is committed to training our electrical workforce with the specialised skills they need to take advantage of this boom, and we are especially keen for women to do this training given their current underrepresentation in the solar industry.
“This is an excellent opportunity for electricians and apprentices to upskill for free and I encourage all who are eligible to enrol.”
The training is available until December 2022 through two registered Victorian training organisations – Solar Training Centre and TAFE Gippsland – with more to be announced across the state.
Participants can complete units for PV system design or installation, or both, and can then complete the same units for battery systems. The funded units of study are from “22453VIC Course in New Energy Technology Systems”.
Completing the training can also lead to Clean Energy Council accreditation.
For more information, visit solar.vic.gov.au/upskilling-electricians-engineers.