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Media release
TAFE NSW | 31 March 2025
IATC networking event to level up careers
“Even though I had graduated from an extremely well-respected international school, I found IATC appealing as the courses were short, targeted and they supplemented my learning.”
Connor Jorgensen
Professionals in the booming construction sector will gain a valuable glimpse into how they can “level up” their careers as part of a unique industry networking event at the Institute of Applied Technology – Construction (IATC) in Kingswood next week.
The Level Up: IATC Industry Connect Night will bring together local industry, educators, alumni and current students to network and discuss emerging opportunities and trends in the industry.
It comes amid an ongoing skills shortage in the construction sector, with a recent survey of Master Builders members finding that 85 per cent of those surveyed found it challenging to hire qualified workers, while 66 per cent identified workforce shortages as the industry's most pressing issue.
IATC courses are delivered in partnership with TAFE NSW, Western Sydney University, and CPB Contractors, and allow construction professionals to upskill in areas including project management, leadership, and digital construction skills.
One of many graduates to use IATC to take their career to the next level is Connor Jorgensen, 29, an architect and project leader with a passion for innovate architecture, urban design, and industrial design.
A Masters graduate and former scholarship holder at one of the world’s most prestigious architecture schools - Politecnico di Milano – Mr Jorgensen turned to IATC in 2024 to undertake a Microcredential in Contract Administration in Construction, an essential skill required to gain registration in architecture.
The online course was such a game-changer for him, he decided to accept a role as a part-time teacher with IATC. Mr Jorgensen will be one of a number of guest speakers at next week’s IATC Industry Connect Night.
“The course wasn’t academic or fluffy and gave me a lot of real-world context,” Mr Jorgensen said.
“Even though I had graduated from an extremely well-respected international school, I found IATC appealing as the courses were short, targeted and they supplemented my learning.
“My teacher ran his own company in the field he was teaching, and the course was online so it allowed me to study around my busy lifestyle.”
Mr Jorgensen now delivers a microcredential for IATC in Building Information Modelling, a complex but critical area that uses a digital representation of a facility's physical and functional characteristics to create better planning, design, construction, and management throughout its lifecycle.
IATC Senior Operations Manager Carly Cosmo said Mr Jorgensen’s story echoed that of many graduates and was a powerful example of how IATC was helping upskill existing construction industry workers.
“About 80 per cent of our students are already in industry and turn to us to help them pivot to a new role in construction or progress in their current role,” Ms Cosmo said.
“We’ve been getting feedback from students that they want more networking opportunities to connect with employers and each other, so I’m sure the IATC Industry Connect Night will the first of many.”
The event will be held on Wednesday, 9 April from 6pm to 8.30pm at IATC, 12-44 O’Connell Street, Kingswood.
Media Contact: Dan Johns, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, 02 7920 5000
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