South Metropolitan TAFE
{{Short description|Educational institution in Western Australia}}
{{Advert|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox university
| name = South Metropolitan TAFE
| image = Logo of South Metropolitan TAFE WA.svg
| city = Fremantle
| state = W.A.
| country = Australia
| website = {{URL|http://www.southmetrotafe.wa.edu.au}}
| established = 1898
| type = Technical and further education
| chair = Ms Elizabeth Carr AM
| campus = Fremantle, Bentley, Jandakot, Murdoch, Kwinana, Munster, Rockingham, Thornlie, Mandurah.
| former_names = * Challenger Institute of Technology
- Challenger TAFE
- South Metropolitan College of TAFE
- {{nowrap|South Metropolitan Technical College}}
- Polytechnic West
}}
The South Metropolitan TAFE (formerly known as the Challenger Institute of Technology or Challenger TAFE) is a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institution with campuses in Armadale, Bentley, Carlisle, Fremantle, Jandakot, Kwinana, Mandurah, Munster, Murdoch, Naval Base, Rockingham and Thornlie in Western Australia.
On 11 April 2016, Challenger Institute of Technology was merged with Polytechnic West, and became South Metropolitan TAFE.[https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Barnett/2016/04/New-appointments-to-strengthen-training-sector.aspx New appointments to strengthen training sector] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817083010/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Barnett/2016/04/New-appointments-to-strengthen-training-sector.aspx |date=2017-08-17 }} 5 April 2016 (accessed 17/8/2017) It is a registered training organisation (RTO Code: 52787) containing more than 350 courses over various industry training areas for full-time, part-time, workplace based and online study, as well as customised training, apprenticeships and traineeships. Each year, over 25,000 students from urban and rural areas attend South Metropolitan TAFE. The TAFE is also attended by many international students at offshore training facilities and programs in Mauritius, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, India, China, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
South Metropolitan TAFE won the Australian Defence Industry Awards 2022 Academic Institution of the Year award,{{Cite web |title=SM TAFE wins national defence award {{!}} South Metropolitan Tafe |url=https://www.southmetrotafe.wa.edu.au/news-and-events/sm-tafe-wins-national-defence-award |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=www.southmetrotafe.wa.edu.au}} and the WA Training Awards Large Training Provider of the Year 2022.{{Cite web |title=SM TAFE wins major award at WA Training Awards {{!}} South Metropolitan Tafe |url=https://www.southmetrotafe.wa.edu.au/news-and-events/sm-tafe-wins-major-award-wa-training-awards-0 |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=www.southmetrotafe.wa.edu.au}}
Courses
South Metropolitan TAFE award courses adhere to the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF), which establishes standard titles and levels for courses across Australia. Qualifications offered at South Metropolitan TAFE range from Certificate 1 level through to Advanced Diploma, as well as short courses, skill sets and customised training for business. The TAFE also has university pathway arrangements through Curtin University and Murdoch University.{{Cite web |title=Reports and publications {{!}} South Metropolitan Tafe |url=https://www.southmetrotafe.wa.edu.au/reports-and-publications |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=www.southmetrotafe.wa.edu.au}}
Campuses and Access Centres
South Metropolitan TAFE has campuses in Armadale, Bentley, Carlisle, Fremantle, Murdoch, Jandakot, Kwinana, Naval Base, Munster, Thornlie, Rockingham and Mandurah.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
As well as its south metropolitan campuses, additional Access Centres are located in the regional towns of Pinjarra, Boddington, Waroona and Mundijong.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}