About us

Collaboration

We work together across our campuses, teams and communities to support student success.

Integrity

We are honest, accountable and professional in the way we work and the decisions we make.

Innovation

We look for better ways to support learning, improve access and respond to changing industry needs.

Respect

We value diversity, listen to different perspectives and create inclusive places to learn and work.

Initiative

We respond to challenges, take responsibility and look for practical ways to improve.

Central Regional TAFE was established in 2016 through the amalgamation of three respected regional training organisations: Durack Institute of Technology, Goldfields Institute of Technology and the C.Y. O’Connor Institute.

Together, these organisations brought decades of experience delivering vocational education and training across regional Western Australia.

Their combined legacy continues to shape who we are today:

• Durack Institute of Technology supported training across the Midwest and Gascoyne, with strengths in areas including maritime, trades and regional workforce development.
• Goldfields Institute of Technology built strong connections with the mining, engineering and heavy industry sectors throughout the Goldfields.
• C.Y. O’Connor Institute had a long-standing connection to agriculture, trades and rural communities across the Wheatbelt.

Today, Central Regional TAFE continues that shared commitment by working with industry, employers and communities to deliver practical, job-focused training that supports local opportunities and future careers.

Jim Walker, Chair

Jim Walker brings extensive leadership experience across the heavy-equipment, automotive, insurance, training and not-for-profit sectors. Beginning his career as an apprentice Heavy Equipment Diesel Fitter, Jim progressed through the industry to become CEO and Managing Director of WesTrac, the Caterpillar dealer for Western Australia, North-East China, New South Wales and the ACT. 

His own journey from apprentice to senior executive has given Jim a strong appreciation of vocational education, workplace training and the importance of attracting skilled people into industry. As Chair of the State Training Board, he is particularly focused on strengthening training pathways, improving recruitment and helping industry develop the skilled workforce needed for the future. 

Jim is also an experienced Non-Executive Director serving across public, private, government and not-for-profit organisations. His leadership roles include Chair of Austin Engineering, RACWA Holdings, RAC Insurance and the Motor Museum of Western Australia, as well as Forum Chair of Diggers & Dealers. He has been a member of the RAC Council 2019 -2026. 

A Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary, Jim is committed to contributing his experience to organisations that create lasting value for their members and the wider community.

Kylie McLerie, Deputy Chair

Founder and Director of Collective Culture, a workplace culture and leadership consultancy based in Kalgoorlie, working across mining, government, education and community services throughout the Goldfields, Kimberley Great Southern and across Australia. 

Before establishing the consultancy business, spent 24 years with the WA Department of Education moving through roles as Teacher, Curriculum Consultant and Manager, Deputy Principal and Principal. 

That combination of school leadership and now organisational consulting sits behind a practice grounded in leadership development, psychosocial safety, strategic governance and organisational strategy and change management.

A 24-year career spanning classroom teaching, school leadership and now organisational consulting, grounded in leadership development and psychosocial safety:

• 1995-1999 - Teacher, WA Department of Education (Kalgoorlie)
• 2000-2001 - Curriculum Consultant, WA Department of Education (Kalgoorlie)
• 2002-2008 - Deputy Principal, WA Department of Education (Kalgoorlie and Kambalda), including a year as Curriculum Manager (2007)
• 2009-2019 - Principal, WA Department of Education (Kalgoorlie)
• 2018-present - Founder and Director, Collective Culture (Kalgoorlie)
• 2020-2023 - Licensee, The Wellbeing Lab

A consulting practice built entirely in regional WA  based in Kalgoorlie and working extensively across the Goldfields and the Kimberley and Great Southern. Client base spans the Department of Communities, Goldfields Community Legal Centre, and Goldfields Women's Health Care Centre, alongside mining and industry contractors (including a multi-year culture engagement with a heavy diesel contracting business), regional small business, and government. 

On the education side, works in partnership with Cultures of Excellence on organisational reviews for regional and metro schools, and has delivered a cultural reform program for ACCOs in the Kimberley. Prior to consulting, 24 years leading regional WA school communities through the WA Department of Education, entirely within Kalgoorlie and Kambalda.

Deputy Chair, CR TAFE Governing Council. President, Goldfields Women's Health Care Centre has led and facilitated governance-level strategy work. As a School Principal, held full accountability for whole-school governance, staff performance and community accountability for a decade.

Living in regional WA for 30 years I believe that a strong and connected community benefits pathways for everyone. I have sat on many Goldfields community group committee ranging from legal services to the arts to support the provision of a comparable range of opportunities for the community to their metro counterparts. 

As President of the Goldfields Women's Health Care Centre, I collaborate with a range of local services to develop a single access model for health and wellbeing supports for our women and families.  I am a current member of the WA Primary Principals Association and have affiliation with many school boards.

Brings governance experience earned from the inside serving currently as Deputy Chair of the CR TAFE Governing Council and President of the Goldfields Women's Health Care Centre, carrying direct accountability for strategic oversight, financial stewardship and organisational performance in both roles. 

That governance instinct was forged over a decade as a School Principal, holding full accountability for whole-school governance, staff performance, budget and community accountability within a large regional government system. 

Since founding Collective Culture, has operated at governance level with clients too, so governance decisions are defensible as well as sound. The result is a rare mix: someone who understands regional industry and community from the ground up, and who has sat on both sides of the governance table as the person being held accountable, and as the person advising those who hold others accountable.

Anthony (Tony) Evans

BBus, DipEd, FCPA, FGIA, FCG, FAICD

Tony Evans is an experienced Non Executive Director with extensive commercial, financial, and governance experience in the education, health, aged care, membership, insurance, property, oil & natural gas, mining, regulatory, government, and not-for-profit sectors. His business career includes executive appointments with Chevron Corporation, Perth Diocesan Trustees, WA Planning Commission, Iluka Resources Ltd, Murdoch University and WA Petroleum Pty Ltd.

He has been Chair and member of other boards and committees, including RAC, Australian Automobile Association, National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority, North Metropolitan Health Service, Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand, St Ives Retirement Group Pty Ltd, Local Government Insurance Scheme, Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd, Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Ltd, Australasian College of Pharmacy, Noongar Advisory Company Ltd, Pilbara Institute and Challenger Institute of Technology.

His qualifications include a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and a postgraduate Diploma in Education, and he is a Fellow of CPA Australia (FCPA), a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia (FGIA), a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland (FCG) and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD).

Jocelyn Carmichael

Paige McNeil

Paige McNeil is the CEO of CEACA Inc, leading the next phase of strategic expansion, strengthening CEACA's position as the Wheatbelt’s leading Community Housing Provider.

Serving her local community, Paige is the President of the Shire of Mundaring, providing strong governance oversight and advocacy to deliver better outcomes. Paige is a WALGA State Councillor and also serves on the Central Regional TAFE Governing Committee.

With demonstrated success in influencing policy through pragmatic, outcomes focused advocacy, Paige is known for her strategic clarity and commitment to excellence, leading with authenticity and inclusivity, building trusted relationships, empowering teams, and delivering meaningful impact across the organisations she serves.

Paige McNeil is an accomplished governance and strategy leader. She brings extensive expertise in governance, strategic planning, financial and risk management and driving strong standards of accountability to deliver efficient performance and high value impact for stakeholders.

Sarah James-Wallace

Sarah is currently working as a solicitor at Regional Alliance West in Geraldton, providing legal advice and support to people throughout the Midwest and Gascoyne who are experiencing disadvantage. She was previously the Chairperson of Regional Alliance West for 14 years, maintaining the stability of this organisation, whilst adapting to change during that time. She invested in fostering relationships of mutual trust and respect with staff and all other stakeholders. She has also served on a number of other community boards. 

Sarah is currently a board member of Regional Development Australia MidWest Gascoyne and a member of the Department of Housing and Works Regional Appeals Panel. She has industry knowledge through her involvement with the Panaceum Group and current employment, extensive governance experience in a regional setting and demonstrated leadership skills in community development.

Jean Iwanyk

Jean Iwanyk is an education leader with extensive experience in workforce development, career education and vocational pathways across Western Australia's secondary education sector. As Program Coordinator – Pathways at Baldivis Secondary College, she leads strategic initiatives that connect education, vocational training, tertiary education and industry, creating opportunities for young people to successfully transition into further education, training and employment.

With a professional background spanning education, information technology, cybersecurity and leadership, Jean brings a multidisciplinary perspective to educational innovation and workforce development. Throughout her career she has championed initiatives that strengthen career development learning, expand access to vocational and tertiary pathways, and improve educational outcomes for learners from diverse backgrounds. Her work is driven by a commitment to reducing barriers to participation, promoting equitable access to education and supporting the development of a skilled, adaptable workforce that meets the evolving needs of Western Australia.

Nils Hay

Nils Hay is Chief Executive Officer of the Mid West Development Commission (MWDC), a Western Australian State Government statutory authority responsible for the economic and social development of the Mid West region. He has led MWDC since July 2022, with a strategic focus spanning the energy transition, advanced manufacturing, industry diversification and the digital economy. He brings more than a decade of senior executive experience in local and State Government across regional Western Australia and Queensland, following an earlier career in the private sector across construction, manufacturing and property in Australia and Japan.

Before joining MWDC, Nils was Chief Executive Officer of the Shire of Mingenew, where he led the organisation through the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergency response and recovery for Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja. Prior to this, he was Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Burke Shire Council in remote north-west Queensland. Across these roles, Nils has led operational and financial management of complex public sector organisations, delivered major infrastructure and grant-funded capital works programs, and driven organisational governance, risk and strategic planning reform.

Before joining MWDC, Nils was Chief Executive Officer of the Shire of Mingenew, where he led the organisation through the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergency response and recovery for Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja. Prior to this, he was Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Burke Shire Council in remote north-west Queensland. Across these roles, Nils has led operational and financial management of complex public sector organisations, delivered major infrastructure and grant-funded capital works programs, and driven organisational governance, risk and strategic planning reform.

Nils brings deep regional economic development expertise and a strong understanding of the Mid West's industry, workforce and community context to the Governing Council. His experience leading a State Government statutory authority and two local governments gives him direct insight into public sector governance, financial stewardship and legislative compliance, while his focus on the region's energy transition and advanced manufacturing agenda offers a close understanding of emerging workforce and training needs relevant to Central Regional TAFE's role in the region.

Nils holds postgraduate qualifications in project management, public policy and accounting and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is currently completing the Global Executive MBA through INSEAD.
He is also 2024 Winston Churchill Fellow, having examined the socioeconomic impacts of large-scale renewable and low-carbon energy projects on regional communities.

Lara Dalton

Lara Dalton is Chair of the Mid West Development Commission, a Director on the Mid West Ports board, and a former Member for Geraldton in the Parliament of Western Australia (2021–2025). Her experience spans vocational education, tourism and hospitality, small business, public service, governance and regional development.

In Parliament, Lara advocated for regional healthcare, education, infrastructure, housing, economic diversification and jobs, and served on the Public Accounts Committee and Joint Standing Committee on Audit. Previously, she lectured in hospitality and events at Central Regional TAFE and predecessor institutions across the Mid West and Gascoyne. She also co-owned and managed Salt Dish Café in Geraldton.

Her governance experience spans school boards, not-for-profit organisations and regional development bodies, including; the Mid West Strategic Infrastructure Group, Short Term Accommodation for Youth (STAY), Leaning Tree Community School, Funtavia Inc and the Hospitality Industry Advisory Council. These roles have fostered strong relationships across government, industry and the community.

Lara brings public-sector and board governance experience, vocational education knowledge, industry and small-business insight, and a deep understanding of regional communities. Her perspective supports workforce development, accessible training pathways, industry partnerships and resilient regional economies.

Lara holds qualifications in Hospitality, Events, and Training and Assessment. Her development includes the RRR Network and Curtin University Regional Leadership Masterclass and Australian Institute of Company Directors training. She has also received TAFE team recognition and a Quality Trainer Award nomination.

Joanne Payne, Managing Director

TAFE provides practical, job-focused training that helps people develop skills for employment, career progression and further study.

Our students include school leavers, career changers, apprentices, trainees, existing workers looking to upskill and people returning to study later in life.

Depending on the course, study may be available on campus, online, in the workplace or through a combination of delivery methods.

Eligible students may be able to access Fee free and low fee, Local Skills courses funded by the Western Australian Government.

Many courses offer flexible delivery options designed to help students balance study with work and personal commitments.

Depending on your course, pathways may include employment, apprenticeships, traineeships, higher-level qualifications or further study.

Visit the relevant course page to view entry requirements, study options and application information.