The multi-million-dollar Findon Technical College is underway with the turning of the first sod.

Hindmarsh, the construction company behind the iconic South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) building, has been selected to build the first of five new technical colleges.

In addition to the SAHMRI project, the Hindmarsh Construction team has also worked on Brighton Secondary School and are currently completing the Immanuel College Discovery Centre.

A total of $208.8 million has been committed to build and operate five technical colleges across South Australia to provide employers with the skilled workforce they need and students in Years 10-12 with the opportunity to learn in first-class facilities.

The designs of the technical colleges ensure they replicate the look, feel and flow of industry workplaces, and create an environment that provides practical, hands-on skills training that is valued by industry.

The first of those, Findon Technical College, will be opened in 2024, with a focus on advanced manufacturing, early childhood and care and health.

“Hindmarsh is proud to have been selected to deliver the new Findon Technical College in partnership with the Department for Education and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport,” said Rowan Hindmarsh, Hindmarsh CEO.

“These are significant and important buildings for our community and ones that will shape the way students interact with their environment to set them up for a successful career in the future.”

BAE was announced as Findon Technical College’s key employer partner with skilling able to support crucial future industries such as defence, ship and submarine building; among other advanced manufacturing pathway – as well as early childhood and education and roles in health and social care to support the rebuild of our health system.

“Technical Colleges provide a great foundation for industry to engage with students, provide early hands-on exposure to new industrial technologies, and support career connections,” Georgette Elston, BAE Systems Australia, Head of Resourcing and Early Careers.

“BAE Systems Australia is already working closely to support curriculum design and development of employer programs including school-based traineeships and apprenticeships.”

In addition to construction getting underway, Findon High School will also undergo $10 million in infrastructure upgrades to deliver refurbishments across a number of specialist areas including food technology, digital design and art. This will be completed by Term 3 in 2023.

Other metropolitan technical colleges will be located at the Heights School in the north-east of Adelaide, and the Tonsley Innovation precinct in the southern suburbs, while two will also be built in regional South Australia – at Port August and Mt Gambier. All five will be operational by 2026.

Each of the five technical colleges will have employer partners that will work with the colleges to ensure a pipeline of skilled workers to their industry and to provide entry level jobs or apprenticeships for school students completing the technical college programs.