Shepparton Trades Advocacy
NVITAFE’s vision is to establish an integrated trades training precinct, bringing together the former McGuire College site/existing Archer Street campus, to create a purpose-designed training environment.
Shepparton’s trades training footprint presents a strong opportunity to bring activity currently delivered across Fryers Street, Archer Street, and William Orr into a more connected and future-focused model. By consolidating and modernising facilities, NVITAFE can strengthen its capacity to grow, better support students, and respond more effectively to the needs of local industry.
The Vision
There are two stages we have mapped out in order to make this a reality.
Stage 1 focuses on consolidating training delivery in Shepparton across three campuses to better align facilities, student services and educational delivery. This proposal optimises the utilisation of existing infrastructure while planning progresses for Stage 2.
Stage 2 consolidates construction and automotive trades training at a single precinct — the former McGuire College site (Wilmot Road) and its significant redevelopment, co-located with our Archer Street campus. The College site will host dedicated Automotive and Electrotechnology facilities, student services, and enhanced external training areas. The precinct will deliver the following from one modernised location:
- Light Vehicle and Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology
- Motorcycle Mechanical Technology
- Automotive Specialisations (Auto Electrical and Electric Vehicles)
- Electrotechnology and Plumbing
- Building and Construction and Carpentry
- Cabinetmaking and Timber Technology
The McGuire College site contains existing educational infrastructure suitable for adaptive reuse. Through targeted refurbishment, demolition of redundant buildings, and strategic external works, the campus can be transformed to meet current and future training needs.
Initial assessments of this redevelopment amount to an estimated $15 million investment.
Relocating Automotive training to Archer Street would also free up facilities within the Fryers Street campus, paving the way for future redevelopment as a dedicated advanced engineering training facility.
Stage 2 will deliver:
Growth in annual training delivery of up to 6% (100–200 additional apprentices, course dependent).
- Growth in annual training delivery in line with the skilled demand profile (up to 6% or 100-200 apprentices, course dependent).
- A dedicated Light and Heavy Automotive Training Centre.
- Contemporary Electrotechnology training facilities.
- Modern administration, student support and learning environments.
- Improved campus accessibility, security and functionality.
- Expanded parking, circulation and external training areas.
- Capacity for future growth and industry expansion.
- Improved utilisation of existing government-owned infrastructure, providing a cost-effective solution.
Benefits and outcomes
The consolidation and expansion of trades training in Shepparton will deliver a range of benefits across students, industry, the organisation, and government.
For students
Consolidation provides improved training environments, equipment, and clearer pathways across co-located trades disciplines.
For industry
A centralised hub increases training capacity aligned to workforce demand and creates a stronger platform for partnerships and responsiveness to emerging needs.
Organisational benefits
Consolidation improves efficiency through better facility utilisation, reduces duplication, and supports a scalable delivery model adaptable to future demand and funding.
Government priorities
The proposal aligns with skills and training priorities—addressing regional skills shortages, supporting economic development, and demonstrating value-for-money through consolidation and targeted expansion.
Our TAFEs
NVITAFE operates across two established institutes, each with strong local identities and community connections.
Serving communities across the Goulburn Ovens region, GOTAFE delivers a broad range of vocational education and training programs aligned to regional workforce needs.
Visit GOTAFE website
Wodonga TAFE delivers industry-focused training across north-east Victoria, supporting learners, employers and communities through strong local partnerships.
Visit Wodonga TAFE websiteLearn more about the benefits of GOTAFE and Wodonga TAFE coming together to better the educational outcomes of our regions.
Learn more