Education Minister Sue Ellery officially open stage four of South Metropolitan Tafe’s Murdoch campus.
Camera IconEducation Minister Sue Ellery officially open stage four of South Metropolitan Tafe’s Murdoch campus. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

South Metropolitan Tafe’s Murdoch campus officially opens after completion of stage 4

Bryce LuffMelville Gazette

STAGE four of South Metropolitan Tafe’s Murdoch campus has officially opened.

The $46.5 million training and administration facility includes three levels for students studying hairdressing, massage, beauty, nutrition and fitness, community and early childhood studies, information technology, business and management.

The ground floor contains specialist training areas including eight hairdressing and beauty salons, a gymnasium and a simulated office, a library, cafe and student services areas.

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Education Minister Sue Ellery chats with students in one of South Metropolitan Tafe’s simulated offices.
Camera IconEducation Minister Sue Ellery chats with students in one of South Metropolitan Tafe’s simulated offices. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Level one includes a virtual nursery and playgroup, computer laboratories and more classrooms.

On the second floor are staff offices and meeting rooms.

Education Minister Sue Ellery said the facility would ensure South Metro Tafe was a flexible and innovative training environment.

“This campus is innovative, cutting edge and it provides for the variety of modern and hands-on training environments we know industry and employers are expecting,” she said.

“They want to be able to employ people who have the qualifications that are absolutely on point and the latest that industry needs.”

Education Minister Sue Ellery chats with advanced skills lecturer Titian Serrano in one of South Metropolitan Tafe’s new hairdressing salons.
Camera IconEducation Minister Sue Ellery chats with advanced skills lecturer Titian Serrano in one of South Metropolitan Tafe’s new hairdressing salons. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

In her address, Ms Ellery also acknowledged the previous government for planning and budgeting for the facility.

Perth-based firm EMCO Building finished practical completion in November, in time for more than 2000 students to begin using it in January.

EMCO chief executive Ron Keogh said the 11,500sq m building’s most distinctive feature – a suspended facade designed by Armstrong Parkin Architects to serve as a shade screen across its northern face – provided one of the biggest structural challenges for the project.

South Metropolitan Tafe’s new training and administration facility cost $46.5 million.
Camera IconSouth Metropolitan Tafe’s new training and administration facility cost $46.5 million. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

“The installation process took a couple of weeks and was quite a meticulous operation,” he said.

“It came in segmented pieces which were lifted into position by crane, and bolted to the supporting structure.

“It’s a bit like a giant Meccano set.

“It certainly gives it that wow factor when you arrive.”

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