The Victorian Government has opened tenders for a delivery partner for a new wind worker training facility, set to ensure the state has a strong pipeline of skilled workers for its clean energy future.
Backed by a $4.9 million investment from the State Government, Victoria’s Wind Worker Training Centre will deliver training for the onshore and offshore wind sectors. The provider must work closely with industry and unions to make sure the training responds directly to the skills needed on the job.
The training will be inclusive of all skill and career levels, making sure there is opportunity for existing workers to retrain and upskill, including Gippsland coal station workers that want to transition to the offshore wind industry.
As well as specialist energy roles, the onshore and offshore wind sectors will provide job opportunities in other fields that support the delivery of projects, such as accounting, information technology and community engagement.
Victoria’s energy workforce is projected to grow to more than 67,000 workers in 2040, more than doubling the current size of the industry – with a peak of 4269 workers in onshore wind and 2370 in offshore wind during construction.
The Victorian Government said this investment in wind energy training is essential to building up the skilled workforce needed to support the planning, construction and operations of new renewable energy projects and meet Victoria’s renewable energy targets.
The state is on track to deliver its renewable energy generation target of 95 per cent by 2035, and the Victorian Government said onshore and offshore wind are a key part of this.
The State Government has also released the Offshore Wind Energy Implementation Statement 4, which updated the community on the state’s progress to deliver the legislated targets of 2GW of offshore wind energy by 2032, 4GW by 2035 and 9GW by 2040.
Applications for the Wind Worker Training Centre tender are now open and will close 5pm Wednesday 16 July 2025.
Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, said, “Because of renewable energy, Victoria has the lowest energy prices in the market and building more will make sure we can continue to drive them down – whilst creating thousands of lifelong jobs for Victorians.
“This wind worker training centre will help future proof our energy workforce, so that Victorian workers can continue to access the training they need to deliver cheaper, cleaner renewable energy for Victoria.”
For more information on how to apply, visit energy.vic.gov.au/grants/wind-worker-training-centre-grant.
