Challenger Institute of Technology
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Former names | Challenger TAFE, South Metropolitan College of TAFE, South Metropolitan Technical College |
|---|---|
| Type | Technical and further education |
| Established | 1898 |
| Director | Ms Terry Durant (Managing Director) |
| Location | Fremantle, W.A., Australia |
| Campus | Fremantle (Fleet St, South Tce), Beaconsfield, Murdoch, Kwinana, Munster, Rockingham and Peel. |
| Website | www.challenger.wa.edu.au |
Challenger Institute of Technology is a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institution based in Fremantle, Western Australia.
More than 140 careers are offered through a wide range of courses catering to different industry training areas. Unique training areas include oil and gas resource industry training at the Australian Centre for Energy and Process Training (ACEPT) and maritime training at the Australian Centre for Applied Aquaculture Research (ACAAR), however qualifications are available in multiple varied career fields through several industry training areas.
Admissions are coordinated through the TAFE Admissions Centre, which provides a central point for receiving and processing applications for full-time Vocational Education and Training (VET) award courses in Western Australia. Previously it was known as Challenger TAFE.
On the 11th of April 2016, Challenger Institute of Technology becomes South Metropolitan TAFE.
South Metropolitan TAFE, now incorporating the former Challenger Institute of Technology, services both urban and regional communities and sees over 17,000 students each year.
Industry training areas
Challenger Institute’s training is provided through campuses across a number of South Metropolitan locations. These include:
- Applied Engineering (incorporating the Australian Centre for Energy and Process Training (ACEPT)
- Maritime[1] (incorporating the Australian Centre for Applied Aquaculture Research (ACAAR)
- Automotive
- Building and Construction
- Community Services, Health and Lifestyle
- Business and Information Technology
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Foundation and Cultural Studies
- Science and the Environment
More than 23,000 students take part in more than 300 courses, on a full-time, part-time or short course basis. About 1,000 international students are enrolled at the institute, which has additional offshore training facilities and programs in eight countries; Mauritius, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, India, China, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
Courses
Challenger Institute of Technology award courses adhere to the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF). The AQTF establishes standard titles and levels for courses across Australia. The qualifications that are currently offered at Challenger Institute include:
- Advanced Diploma
- Diploma
- Certificate IV
- Certificate III
- Certificate II
- Certificate I
Through its university pathway arrangements with WA universities, including Curtin University and Murdoch University, students can also gain access into tertiary education. Challenger Institute also offers short courses and customised training solutions for business.
Campuses and Access Centres
Challenger Institute has [2] campuses in Fremantle, and on Victoria Quay, as well as campuses in Beaconsfield, Murdoch, Kwinana, Munster, Rockingham and Peel.
As well as its south metropolitan campuses, additional Access Centres are located in the regional towns of Pinjarra, Boddington, Waroona and Mundijong.
History
Challenger Institute can lay claim to being the oldest technical educational institution in Western Australia, tracing its roots to the late 19th Century.
Prior to 1900, technical education in WA was sporadic and mostly supported through Mechanics and Miners Institutes. However, Challenger’s technical education record in Fremantle can trace its beginnings to 1898 when evening classes were conducted at Fremantle Boys School. These took place in the FTI building in Adelaide Terrace. Challenger Institute’s subsequent incarnation was as the Fremantle Technical School. The inaugural class of 1900 comprised 116 male students taking evening classes in the South Terrace building that is still used today as a campus and administrative office.
Some name changes followed in subsequent decades, with the organisation operating at various times as South Metropolitan Technical College, South Metropolitan College of TAFE and Challenger TAFE.
The formation in 2009 of a new West Australian training department resulted in the launch of a state government training blueprint, Training WA. Integral to this report was the call for public training organisations to become more autonomous, with the government giving TAFE colleges greater scope for flexibility and innovation in an increasingly competitive training market.
The name Challenger Institute of Technology was formally adopted on 15 December 2009.