A group of Lithgow City Council workers is ready to better maintain council parks, gardens, and property thanks to fee-free training with TAFE NSW.  

The eight workers from the Recreation, Urban and Rural Works, and Solid Waste teams completed Statements of Attainment in Backhoe/Loader and Dozer Operations as part of the NSW Government’s Smart and Skilled Targeted Priorities Prevocational and Part Qualifications (TPPPQ) Program.

The program aims to upskill workers and increase their skills as jobs evolve. Lithgow City Council’s Work Health and Safety Officer John Kearney said the training underscores Council’s priority to enrich worker skills.

“We’ve benefited from subsidised training before when our staff completed chainsaw courses, and the training we get with TAFE NSW is the benchmark – best of the best,” said Mr Kearney.

The Backhoe/Loader and Dozer training will enable staff to operate the machines safely for landscaping, excavating, and digging on council land and projects.

​​​​​​​“There have been some internal promotions and opportunities to upskill and recertify in this group,” said Mr Kearney.

​​​​​​​“It’s always appreciated when we can develop the practical skills of our staff and they can in turn better serve the community.”

​​​​​​​TAFE NSW Head Teacher Civil Construction Lindsay Griffith said upskilling the local workforce was important for the growth of the Lithgow region.

​​​​​​​“It’s important to continue to develop skills in regional areas for sustainability and growth, and these opportunities for fee-free training are great way to do that,” Mr Griffith said.

​​​​​​​“These partnerships and subsidies demonstrates that TAFE NSW is committed to training people in our regions, and supporting local organisations like Lithgow City Council to give their staff the practical skills and qualifications needed to get the job done.”

​​​​​​​For more information on the range of TAFE NSW civil construction courses, phone 131 601 or visit www.tafensw.edu.au

​​​​​​​Media contact: Amy Johnson, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, email amy.johnson87@tafensw.edu.au