Axalta and TAFE NSW Celebrate Inaugural Training Graduation in Australia

Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE: AXTA), a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, celebrates the success of its partnership with educational institute TAFE New South Wales, with the graduation of its inaugural program’s first students. TAFE, or Technical and Further Education, is Australia’s leading provider for vocational education and training courses. The program will help address Australia’s shortage of skilled technicians for auto repair and refinish, with nearly 5000 technicians needed to maintain industry sustainability.

Axalta’s alliance with TAFE NSW began in 2016. After the closure of TAFE course facilities at Mount Druitt, Axalta welcomed students to its facility in nearby Riverstone, Western Sydney. Well-equipped with ultramodern paint technology and repair equipment, Axalta’s training center gives access to technical trainers who instruct the students on the latest application techniques, evolving digital technologies, and repair processes. As an automotive OEM partner, Axalta is well-placed to share the latest requirements and developments for a wide range of vehicle makes.

“At our Riverstone training center, we provide the materials, the venue, and a trainer to work alongside the TAFE trainer,” says Paul Polverino, Axalta’s National Training Manager. “Our aim is to show these talented young people that they can have a rewarding career in refinish and auto repair.”

In this regard, the partnership has been an incredible success. Around 90% of students who take the course through TAFE NSW and train at Axalta’s Riverstone facility continue with their study, where typically, half of apprentices in Australia drop out before completion.

“The average dropout rate for all apprentices is about 50%,” says Carl Tinsley, the Autobody Repair and Surface Coatings teacher at TAFE NSW, Campbelltown. “But we found that with the Axalta course, we have a 90% retention rate. They receive hands-on training on modern technology and repair techniques, and can see how all of that turns into a well-paying job.”

With the successful graduation of the first students under this program, Axalta is committed to continue its support of additional apprentices who seek a career in auto repair and refinishing as an integral element of Axalta’s passion for sustainability and strength in the industry’s future.

About Axalta Coating Systems

Axalta is a leading global company focused solely on coatings and providing customers with innovative, colorful, beautiful and sustainable solutions. From light OEM vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish applications to electric motors, buildings and pipelines, our coatings are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enable the materials we coat to last longer. With more than 150 years of experience in the coatings industry, the over 13,000 people of Axalta continue to find ways to serve our more than 100,000 customers in 130 countries better every day with the finest coatings, application systems and technology. For more information visit axalta.com and follow us on Twitter @Axalta and on LinkedIn.

About TAFE NSW

TAFE NSW is Australia’s largest training provider, with over 500,000 enrolments in 2016 and 1,200 courses, from Statements of Attainment through to Degrees. With TAFE NSW, students can get a job today and a career for the future. We are the biggest employer network in Australia. With over 25,000 employer partners and an employer satisfaction of 96%, our students get jobs. We are the education innovator, focused on shaping the future of education through investment in state-of-the-art facilities, systems, technology and teachers to deliver the best practice skills training in the world.

You can be whatever you want to be at TAFE NSW.

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Axalta Coating SystemsFrederica McCauleyD [phone]