Thread: TAFE course in metal machining- Brisbane 2013

Hi

I hope you can get enough people interested

That course seems to be excessively expensive to me .

I did a pre-apprenteship course in machining . It was 6 months , one day per week , from 8 to 4 pm . It cost under $200 with the materials fee included . The students were all 16-17 old kids , except for me. They cannot refuse you on age related issues .

The TAFE system is hit and miss in terms of teaching standards . It can be woefully bad , or it can be acceptable . My class had some misfits who didn't want to be there and they wasted everybodies time .

To be honest, you chaps on this forum are more knowledeable than the run of the mill TAFE teacher . The teachers have spent a career in industry doing certain things and they generally dont have the skills or brilliance of a Harold Hall for example .MIKE

I would be interested but live 65K away, have you ever heard of anything on the North side of Brisbane

Morrisman, have to agree, TAFE is prohibitively expensive now, mostly due to incompetence on the part of the teaching staff, people not wanting to be there but their employer wanting a "qualification", plus stupid health and safety, insurance, Campbell Newman, and probably the carbon tax (even though I still have some faith in it).
Try get any one in these forums (or anyone involved in the industry) to hold training sessions in their workshops, and you will get zero response, the lawyers and H&S folk have everyone scared these days. I even remember only 10 years ago, people were actually responsible for their actions, and didn't blame anyone else if they were hurt through their own stupidity, unlike now, where it's always someone else's fault.

Denncarm, this is the only course I have seen in Brisbane for years, they used to run a course at Brendale, and even Gateway TAFE's (Fairfield before the neighbours complained too much too), but since it's offered by interest only, I reckon if enough people showed interest, and they had a reasonably competent teacher around, they may run it in other areas.

Cheers

Benja

I may need something to do soon. Looks like workcover want to pay me out and get rid of me. I am still capable of doing something and don't want to end up depending purely on a disability pension. Fair way to go for me too, as I am on the northside.

Nev

Nev, there is a discounted rate, probably more if you are on some sort of govt/rehab program.
Feel sorry for you mate, I know Workcover can be a bunch of ####, not form personal experience, but others I work with.
I know it's a fair travel for most people, but at least you get 3 hours of man/shop time, with an hour's silence either way for travel!

Cheers

Benja

Originally Posted by benja

Feel sorry for you mate, I know Workcover can be a bunch of ####, not form personal experience, but others I work with.

Don't want this to get off topic but they have actually been pretty good. Will seriously consider this course.

Nev

Originally Posted by benja

Try get any one in these forums (or anyone involved in the industry) to hold training sessions in their workshops, and you will get zero response,

I can think of an exceptional exception to that rule!

One of nephews wanted to learn to weld and as I only have a MIG* at the minute I looked up TAFE courses were he could try a few different sorts. They were around the $600 mark also.

Stuart

*(GMAW if we are going to get techincal which I guess we should in thread about TAFE)

I would like to add that I hope I haven't painted the whole TAFE system as being hopeless . I have to be honest and say that one of my machining tutors at TAFE was a very skilled person who showed me quite a few good things - this particular guy was a whiz at making helical gears . The problem is , in a big room with many students, he didnt have the time to coach me all of the time . Often you are left alone to work things out for yourself .

I did make some useful tools during my time at TAFE . A pipe centre, a thread chasing dial , and a G clamp for example . Mike

Interesting about the costs. I'm currently doing my MMAW cert @ Tafe Meadowbank and the instructors are nothing short of brilliant. It's a 6 month, part time course that set me back a woeful $250.

I wouldn't flinch @ $900 for a 6 month course doing machining - you'll probably burn through more than that in material costs alone.

Best of luck with the course, hopefully it has enough interest to go ahead.

Cheers
Jon

Got an email back from TAFE today, looks like the course is moving to Acacia Ridge in 2013. They will be sending me a reminder when enrolment opens, so I will post same here when I get it.

Cheers

Benja

I have been failing my fitter and turners TAFE course for 11 years now. Yes, i'm SLOW! In this time however, the teachers have been good, some better than others of course and in general the machinery is in good condition. The TAFE just replaced a number of machines over the last 2 years, one came my way and now I have a horizonal mill.

But, I pay $400 per year and this includes material. Now, with the new pay structure system imposed by the government, people with Certs and degrees pay more as they have prior learning. I only have HSC, so I pay the lower amount. My best friend who also attended the same course for 10 years had to drop out as his degree meant he would have to pay $1800 per year. He is now the proud owner of a new mill and lathe, whcih would pay for itself in a couple of years of this course.

In all the time i have attended, doing the course has been great. I look forward to it every tuesday night and I have even got some of my other CNC friends involved.

My 2 cents

/M

Originally Posted by seafurymike

But, I pay $400 per year and this includes material. Now, with the new pay structure system imposed by the government, people with Certs and degrees pay more as they have prior learning. I only have HSC, so I pay the lower amount.

Hell, with my education they might even be paying me.. Grade 1 was the best 10 years of my life....

Originally Posted by seafurymike

I have been failing my fitter and turners TAFE course for 11 years now. Yes, i'm SLOW! In this time however, the teachers have been good, some better than others of course and in general the machinery is in good condition. The TAFE just replaced a number of machines over the last 2 years, one came my way and now I have a horizonal mill.

But, I pay $400 per year and this includes material. Now, with the new pay structure system imposed by the government, people with Certs and degrees pay more as they have prior learning. I only have HSC, so I pay the lower amount. My best friend who also attended the same course for 10 years had to drop out as his degree meant he would have to pay $1800 per year. He is now the proud owner of a new mill and lathe, whcih would pay for itself in a couple of years of this course.

In all the time i have attended, doing the course has been great. I look forward to it every tuesday night and I have even got some of my other CNC friends involved.

My 2 cents

/M

seafury,

whuch course are you doing in Melbourne? I have been looking at the Box Hill course.