TAFE Western Sydney and Lendlease celebrated Friday with The Hon. John Barilaro MP Minister for Skills and over 300 apprentices at the $6 billion Barangaroo South project in Sydney, to celebrate the employment of the site’s 500th apprentice and 50th Indigenous apprentice.

The Minister congratulated TAFE Western Sydney, who manages Barangaroo’s onsite training hub - the Barangaroo Skills Exchange (BSX) on their commitment to the apprenticeship system and developing long-term careers for individuals in the construction industry.

"Barangaroo is the training and skilling powerhouse for apprentices, who will carry their training through to future projects.  What is remarkable about Barangaroo is the industry-relevant, highly-customised skills that each apprentice is gaining through the Barangaroo Skills Exchange program" said the Minister.

The BSX provides workers at Barangaroo with an on-site learning space where they receive one-on-one support, attend classes or access computers to study online programs.

Lendlease Managing Director of Barangaroo South, Andrew Wilson, said partnerships between industry and training organisations were an integral component in achieving long-term careers for individuals within the construction industry.

“Lendlease is working closely with TAFE Western Sydney to create genuine career paths for people in the construction sector, right through until retirement. Importantly, the partnership has changed the careers and lives of those who have had the opportunity to train through the BSX,” said Mr Wilson.

Institute Director of TAFE Western Sydney Robin Shreeve said the BSX has redefined the way workplace learning and TAFE training is being delivered in the construction industry.

“The BSX will provide a huge injection of future-skilled workers with real industry experience and training. For the first time we have workers who would never normally attend a TAFE college, visiting the BSX to get support and undertake skilling programs that will improve their futures with new career pathways,” he said.

Since the opening of the BSX in 2012 almost 7,000 Barangaroo workers have undertaken skilling on-site, with 19,000 accredited training outcomes achieved in this time.

The BSX is supported by the Barangaroo Delivery Authority and the Commonwealth Department of Education to develop training programs and deliver outcomes that would not be ordinarily possible within a traditional college setting.