INSIDE WELD AUSTRALIA
AN UPDATE FROM THE AWTCs Weld Australia has worked with partners around the country to secure State and Federal Government funding for the establishment of Advanced Welder Training Centres (AWTCs). Using the state-ofthe-art Soldamatic augmented reality welding simulator, the training delivered at the AWTCs quickly qualifies welders to the only industry Standard in the world that is accepted in both Europe and America: ISO 9606-1 Qualification testing of welders – Fusion welding. This Standard is the minimum requirement for working on rolling stock, defence and infrastructure projects, which are crucial to onshore Australian manufacturing and a stronger national economy.
Advanced Manufacturing School Outreach Program In 2020, Weld Australia proposed an Advanced Manufacturing School Outreach Program to the New South Wales (NSW) Government. The Program received their support, with funding provided through the Department of Education’s Vocational Education and Training Program for Secondary Students. As a result, 32 augmented reality welding simulators were deployed in a pilot program in 16 schools across the state. The schools ranged from the Wagga Wagga, Lake Illawarra and Dapto high schools in southern New South Wales, to the Gorokan and Kurri Kurri High Schools in the Lower Hunter region. The first pilot commenced at the beginning of Term 1 in 2021. The simulators were used to teach welding to students in Years 10-12 studying Manufacturing and Engineering, and Industrial Technology. Based on the success of the first pilot program, the NSW Department of Education ordered a further 20 simulators for another 10 high schools in regional areas. The first tranche of the program was rolled out in the Bathurst region in January 202. The second tranche of training took place in late February 2022 for high schools in Temora, West Wyalong, James Fallon, Shepherds Park and Junee.
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Australian Welding
In April 2022, Weld Australia commissioned another two Soldamatics for each of Cobar High School, Bourke High Scool and Willyama High School in Broken Hill. We also rolled out teacher training for the machines.
Teachers at Cobar High School learn how to use the Soldamatics.
MEM 2.0 Learning Resources Weld Australia is making significant progress with the national Metals and Engineering online learning resources project. Weld Australia is working with TAFEs across the country through the National TAFE Consortium to create excellent online resources. According to Michael Pitt, (National Manager Education and Training, Weld Australia), “We are creating a set of national resources mapped to the national MEM training package, so that learning resources for trade students are consistent across the country. This will help ensure consistent training, regardless of where in the country students undertake that training.”
Teachers learn how to use the Soldamatics.
“The new resources are completely online and accessible via phone, mobile device or computer. This will allow students to access learning at the time, place and pace that suits them best. We are very excited about the project and are already seeing some great results,” said Pitt. Weld Australia recently circulated the new learning resources to members of the National TAFE Consortium. The
Teachers try their hand at the Soldamatics at Temora High School.
