Want to explore an exciting pathway from learning to earning? Then you’re in luck, because South Australia’s five cutting-edge technical colleges are now accepting enrolments.
The South Australian government has committed $208.8 million to build five technical colleges across the state, each designed to replicate the look, feel and flow of industry workplace environments within a state-of-the-art learning facility.
Findon Technical College opened earlier this year, and work is well underway on the other four sites. Port Augusta is set to open its doors next year, with The Heights, Tonsley and Mt Gambier to welcome students in 2026.
What are technical colleges?
The new technical colleges are trade schools reimagined to provide a next gen pathway from school to your dream workplace. They offer students in years 10 to 12 a unique, tailored curriculum that connects them directly with employers and provides an exciting, hands-on route into their chosen industry.
The colleges support students in years 10 to 12 to complete their SACE while undertaking vocational education and training (VET) in brand new, specialist facilities. Attendance costs the same (or less!) than public high schools, and each college has several speciality programs it runs with industry partners. That means students can walk out of the technical colleges and straight into a guaranteed career in a sector crying out for skilled local workers.
Unlike public high schools, the new technical colleges have no catchment zone – all you need to do is demonstrate your passion and commitment to the career and industry training program of your choice, and meet the entry requirements.
Findon Technical College
Opened at the start of 2024, Findon Technical College is co-located with Findon High School. The college provides industry training programs in:
- Advanced manufacturing and engineering for careers in defence, engineering and manufacturing;
- Health and social support for careers in aged care, nursing and allied health;
- Early childhood and education for careers as early childhood workers, educators and teachers.
To create and deliver its training programs, Findon Technical College has partnered with BAE Systems, Liebherr and Axiom Precision Manufacturing for advanced manufacturing and engineering; Helping Hand Aged Care and Southern Cross Care for health and social support; and Goodstart Early Learning and Precious Cargo for early childhood and education.
Port Augusta Technical College
Opening next year, the Port Augusta Technical College will be co-located and run in conjunction with Port Augusta Secondary School. The college will provide industry training programs in:
- Civil, resources and infrastructure for careers in mining and civil construction;
- Health and social support for careers in aged care, nursing and allied health;
- Hospitality and tourism for careers in hospitality and tourism;
- Multi-trades for careers as carpenters, plumbers, builders, electricians and boilermakers.
To create and deliver its training programs, Port Augusta Technical College has partnered with BHP, as well as key employers across the region.
The college will also offer modern and secure onsite accommodation for students from across the Upper Spencer Gulf, Eyre Peninsula, Mid North, Far North and APY Lands.
Tonsley Technical College
Tonsley Technical College will open in 2026 and is an exciting collab with Flinders University’s Factory of the Future – an industry focused research and capability-building facility. It will provide industry training programs in:
- Advanced manufacturing and engineering for careers in defence, engineering and manufacturing;
- Automotive and energy for careers in the automotive and green energy industries;
- Building and construction for careers in the trades in the building and construction industry.
To create and deliver its training programs, Tonsley Technical College has partnered with the Motor Trade Association (MTA), Master Builders Association (MBA) and Australian submarine company ASC. More industry partners will be announced soon, so watch this space!
Mount Gambier Technical College
Set to open in 2026, Mount Gambier Technical College will be built on the Education, Training and Research precinct on Wireless Road. It’ll provide industry training programs in:
- Agri-tech for careers in forestry, agriculture and manufacturing using the latest technology;
- Early Childhood and Education for careers as early childhood workers, educators and teachers;
- Health and Social Support for careers in aged care, nursing and allied health;
- Multi-trades for careers as as carpenters, plumbers, builders, electricians and boilermakers.
To create and deliver its training programs, the college will work with key regional employer partners and TAFE SA as the main registered training organisation (RTO). It will support public students from across the Limestone Coast region and be open to students from the private school sector, with short stay accommodation available for about 40 students at a time.
The Heights Technical College
Co-located and run in conjunction with The Heights School, The Heights Technical College will open in 2026. Its location is near RAAF Base Edinburgh, home for the nation’s fleet of P8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, a project which will involve 30 years of sustainment and upgrade work.
The Heights Technical College will offer industry training programs in:
- Aero skills for careers as aircraft maintenance technicians in defence and civil aviation;
- Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering for careers in defence, engineering and manufacturing;
- Building and construction for careers in the trades in the building and construction industry;
- Early Childhood and Education for careers as early childhood workers, educators and teachers.
The college will soon announce the employer partners and registered training organisations (RTOs) it will work with.
Registrations of interest for enrolling in any of the five technical colleges can be made online here.
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