Central Institute of Technology was a
Technical and Further Education
Technical and further education or simply TAFE (), is the common name in English-speaking countries in Oceania for vocational education, as a subset of tertiary education. TAFE institutions provide a wide range of predominantly vocational cours ...
(TAFE) institution based in
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth i ...
until 2016 when it became a part of
North Metropolitan TAFE
North Metropolitan TAFE is a state government-funded educational facility delivering Technical and Further Education (TAFE). It services the northern suburbs of Perth across ten campuses.
It was formed on 11 April 2016, when the State Governmen ...
. It was the equal oldest post-secondary educational institution in Western Australia and the largest TAFE institution in Perth.
[A brief history]
on official website Historically it was also known by the names of Perth Technical College, Central Metropolitan College of TAFE (CMC) and Central TAFE. On April 11, 2016 following a reform of all TAFEWA colleges, Central Institute of Technology amalgamated with West Coast Institute of Training and became known as
North Metropolitan TAFE
North Metropolitan TAFE is a state government-funded educational facility delivering Technical and Further Education (TAFE). It services the northern suburbs of Perth across ten campuses.
It was formed on 11 April 2016, when the State Governmen ...
.
Campuses and facilities
The institute currently trains around 25,000 students each year and operates at five campuses in the Perth metropolitan area:
![Perth campus](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Perth_campus.JPG)
* Perth campus
* Leederville campus
* East Perth campus (eCentral)
* Mount Lawley campus
* Nedlands campus (Oral Health Care Centre of Western Australia)
Central Institute of Technology also caters for 1500 students from overseas each year and has offshore contracts for the delivery of Australian vocational qualifications in mainland China, Hong Kong, Mauritius, India and Kuwait.
![Central Institute of Technology, 12 Aberdeen St](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Central_Institute_of_Technology%2C_12_Aberdeen_St.%2C_facade.jpg)
Facilities at the main Northbridge campus include an art gallery and a simulated underground mine.
[Collier P]
New mine in the city opened under Northbridge
Press release of Training Minister, 23 October 2009 East Perth campus, also known as eCentral, is one of the most technologically advanced campuses in Western Australia. The campus is partially powered by the largest single grid-connected solar system in the Perth CBD and one of the largest in the state. A new building at the East Perth campus provides facilities for training in the mining and renewable energy industries.
An alliance between Central Institute of Technology, the
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia (UWA) is a public research university in the Australian state of Western Australia. The university's main campus is in Perth, the state capital, with a secondary campus in Albany and various other facilitie ...
and
Curtin University has resulted in the formation of the Oral Health Care Centre of Western Australia (OHCWA) in Nedlands.
![Central TAFE, Perth, Western Australia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Central_TAFE%2C_Perth%2C_Western_Australia.jpg)
In 2011, Central opened a $62 million training facility at 30 Aberdeen Street completing Central’s redevelopment of its city campus, linking all of the buildings in one education precinct. 30 Aberdeen Street houses training portfolios for the areas of engineering, architecture design and building and programs, for the "lifestyle industries" including massage and beauty therapy treatment rooms.
All of Central's campuses are located in the Perth inner metropolitan area.
Courses
Central offers over 400 courses in areas including:
* Business, Management, Marketing, Real Estate, Legal and Finance
* Creative and Digital (Art, Design and Media; Information Technology and Information Services)
* Engineering and Building
* English and Community Access
* Health and Community Services
* Resources and Science and Sustainability
* Sport and Education
* Tourism and Languages
![Leederville2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Leederville2.jpg)
Central Institute of Technology award courses are in line with the
Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF). The AQTF establishes standard titles and levels for courses across Australia. The qualifications that are currently offered at Central include:
* Advanced Diploma
* Diploma
* Certificate IV
* Certificate III
* Certificate II
* Certificate I
Through its university pathway arrangements with
Curtin University,
The University of Western Australia (UWA),
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac, known simply as Notre Dame ( ) or ND, is a private Catholic university, Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, outside the city of South Bend, Indiana, South Bend. French priest Edward Sorin fo ...
(UND),
Murdoch University and
Edith Cowan University
Edith Cowan University (ECU) is a public university in Western Australia. It is named in honour of the first woman to be elected to an Australian parliament, Edith Cowan, and is the only Australian university named after a woman. Gaining unive ...
(ECU), students can also gain access into university.
Central also offers a range of short courses and customised training for business.
Structure and employees
![133newcastle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/133newcastle.jpg)
Central has a governing council and employs 1,300 staff in lecturing and administrative positions in:
* Art and Design
* Applied Design
* Building, Design & Construction
* Management and Business
* Community & Children's Services
* Community Learning and Partnerships
* English as a Second Language (ESL)
* Digital Content
* Engineering
* Finance & Property Services
* Health & Lifestyle
* Media
* Science, Resources & Environment
* Sport, Education & Disability
* Tourism & Languages
History
![Students Entering 30 Aberdeen](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Students_Entering_30_Aberdeen.JPG)
The Central Institute of Technology began as the Perth Technical School, holding its first classes from 16 May 1900 at the
Old Perth Boys School
The Old Perth Boys School, located at 139 St Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Australia, is the earliest government school building in Western Australia. The single-storey limestone building was designed by William Ayshford Sanford in 1852 and i ...
and from various makeshift facilities along
St Georges Terrace. The first enrolment was of 69 students in classes including chemistry, metallurgy, mineralogy, geology, woodwork, metalwork, art and design.
[ In 1910 a purpose-built building was constructed to house the school.
Between 1905 and 1914, courses including pure mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology were taught at Perth Technical School on behalf of the ]University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide (informally Adelaide University) is a public research university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. The university's main campus is located on N ...
. This arrangement ceased in 1914 when the University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia (UWA) is a public research university in the Australian state of Western Australia. The university's main campus is in Perth, the state capital, with a secondary campus in Albany and various other facilitie ...
became operational.[Dunne, J. P.; McKell J. H. (ed) ''I Will Arise: History of Perth Technical College 1900-1980'']
The school continued to grow in the following decades, establishing additional campuses and offering a growing list of qualifications. In 1966, the institution became more focused on vocational training when areas such as chemistry and metallurgy split away into the Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT) (now Curtin University).
In 1990, the institute became the Central Metropolitan College of TAFE following the amalgamation of affiliated colleges at Perth, Leederville, Wembley and Mt Lawley, as well as the Claremont School of Art and the WA School of Nursing. In late 2009 Central TAFE changed its name and branding to Central Institute of Technology.
The 1910 Perth Technical School building is listed in the Register of Heritage Places of the state Heritage Council as part of the group of buildings which includes Newspaper House, the WA Trustee Co and the Royal Insurance buildings. It is also listed in the National Estate.Perth Technical School (former)
at Australian heritage photographic library
Notable alumni
Notable alumni of the institute include:
Sir Walter James, 5th
Premier of Western Australia
The premier of Western Australia is the head of government of the state of Western Australia. The role of premier at a state level is similar to the role of the prime minister of Australia at a federal level. The premier leads the executive bra ...
(1902 to 1904); in the federal government
Sir Billy Mackie Snedden,
17th Attorney-General,
23rd Treasurer and
Leader of the Opposition; architect
William G. Bennett; pioneer aviator
Sir Norman Brearley; and businessmen Sir
James Cruthers
Sir James Winter Cruthers (20 December 1924 – 13 October 2015) was an Australian media business executive and philanthropist.
Early life and career
Cruthers was born in 1924 and was educated at Claremont Central State School and Perth Techn ...
; and Sir
Lance Brisbane. Speech pathologist
Lionel Logue taught at the school from 1910 to 1911. Olympian
Shirley Strickland
Shirley Barbara de la Hunty AO, MBE (née Strickland; 18 July 1925 – 11 February 2004), known as Shirley Strickland during her early career, was an Australian athlete. She won more Olympic medals than any other Australian in running sports.
...
taught mathematics and physics to returned servicemen in her spare time at the school in the period after World War II. Olympic swimmer
Neil Brooks
Neil Brooks (born 27 July 1962) is an Australian former sprint freestyle swimmer best known for winning the 4 × 100 m medley relay at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow as part of the '' Quietly Confident Quartet''. Brooks was as m ...
studied accountancy at the Leederville campus in 1978.
References
{{Authority control
TAFE WA
Perth Cultural Centre