By Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown

Earlier this week I joined Premier Chris Minns and local MPs as they announced State and Federal funding to establish the Illawarra Heavy Industry Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at TAFE NSW Wollongong. It’s a vote of confidence in Wollongong and highlights the ongoing contribution our region will make to industry and building sovereign capability.  The Centre of Excellence will focus on targeted training in both traditional and emerging heavy industry manufacturing and feature emerging technologies to give students the skills to work in digital, electrical and robotic manufacturing.

Wollongong makes a significant contribution to the state and national economy, and ensuring we have an appropriately skilled workforce is vital.  In the previous term of Council I highlighted the need to work with Government, the University of Wollongong, TAFE NSW and industry and community leaders to help address our regional skills shortage. The Centre of Excellence is a welcome and positive step towards meeting this challenge.

Council also supports training skilled workers.  Right now, applications are open for Council’s next intake of cadets, apprentices and trainees. Whether you want be an apprentice carpenter, plumber or trainee in conservation land management, there are positions on offer across multiple Council teams. Applications close Sunday 8 December so now is the time to get your application in.

In the lead up to Christmas there are some fantastic festive events for the community to support and enjoy. We’re putting on Wollongong’s Carols in MacCabe Park on Thursday 12 December which is a free event kicking off at 7pm. It’ll be a terrific way to get together and sing along with the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music Children’s and Youth Choir and other local singing groups.

The City of Wollongong Giving Tree Appeal is also a great initiative that helps make Christmas brighter for those in our community who are doing it tough. The appeal is a partnership with Anglicare and St Vincent de Paul Society and gift donations can be dropped off at various locations across the city until Friday 13 December. Please check out Council’s website for details.

I extend my best wishes for a safe and happy festive season, and appreciation on behalf of the community to our lifeguards and all Council staff who will be working and delivering services over the holiday season.