Hay locals are future-proofing their careers by upskilling in priority industries with TAFE NSW, including in the booming wool classing industry.

It comes as TAFE NSW wool classing enrolments surge statewide, with the wool industry confronting an ongoing skills shortage.

Former McDonald’s manager Ms Browne, 22, moved to Hay from country Victoria to pursue her dream of working in the wool industry. After completing the Certificate IV in Wool Classing at TAFE NSW Hay in 2022, she immediately gained employment with Willshear Hay.

“I’ve just fallen in love with the industry and to be able to study my course fee-free took a lot of the pressure off,” Ms Browne said.

Hay could have its own university by as early as next year.

A pilot campus for Country University Centre in partnership with TAFE Connected Learning Centre has been proposed, and to be known as CUC Hay.

As reported by Hay Shire Council in October and in The Riverine Grazier on November 15, Hay had been identified as a good fit for CUC Southern Riverina which would also include the Councils of Berrigan, Edward River and Murray River.

Children of Hay are getting their pertinent questions answered as well as learning new skills.

Meredith Gaw, Daniel Green, Frederick Nelson, Paigan Gee, Euen Kerr and Kodi Scott have been learning how to podcast during a novel workshop conducted at TAFE Connected Learning Centre last week.

Hay’s burgeoning wool industry has received a boost with news local girl and former national wool handling champion Kayla Garner to train the next generation of wool classers at TAFE NSW Hay.