Careers at TAFE NSW

TAFE NSW Life-Changing Careers

Technical Officer- Fashion

Lidcombe Campus

Permanent full-time position

$91,081- $100,536 salary package - includes base salary ($80,246- $88,576), plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

At TAFE NSW, we are dedicated to life-changing impact.

That’s why we offer world-class training and education that delivers the skills needed for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Life-changing impact starts with an incredible team that sees their career as an opportunity to transform someone’s world. Whether that’s inspiring students, supporting each other, or helping our communities and industries flourish. 

We invest in our people

At TAFE NSW, you will discover a diverse, dynamic, and collaborative environment, where you can innovate, create value, and do meaningful work.

We provide you with tools and ongoing training and professional development, health and wellbeing programs, and a 35 hour working week with a variety of flexible working options.

About the role

We are looking for a Technical Officer to join our Fashion team in a permanent full-time role based at the Lidcombe campus, with occasional travel to Castle Hill as required. A current driver’s licence is preferred due to travel between campuses. The role typically supports trainers by managing workshops and equipment (such as industrial machines, irons, and cutting tools), preparing resources, ensuring safety (WHS), and assisting students with practical skills, including advanced garment cutting, pattern layout for efficiency (minimising waste), sewing, and garment construction. This position plays a key role in bridging theory with industry practice to maintain a functional, safe, and well-equipped learning environment.

General Technical Officer Responsibilities

• Workshop Management: Prepare, maintain, and organise learning spaces, equipment, and materials.
• Technical Support: Provide hands-on assistance to students and trainers with industry-standard machinery and techniques.
• Resource Preparation: Set up materials, equipment, machinery for classes.
• Safety & Compliance: Implement and maintain Work Health & Safety (WHS) standards in workshops, managing inventories and equipment calibration.
• Administration: Handle related administrative tasks, inventory, and documentation. 
• Specific Responsibilities for Garment Cutting in Fashion.
• Fabric Lay-up & Cutting: Laying up pattern pieces efficiently to maximise fabric use and cutting garments / components accurately for assessments. 
• Allocating fabric sampling for assessments.
• Sample & Prototype Support: Assisting with sewing design prototypes and samples.
• Industrial Machinery: Operating and maintaining industrial sewing machines, overlockers, and pressing equipment.

In essence, the role ensures the fashion studios are safe, well-equipped, and functional, allowing students to learn practical skills in design, patternmaking, cutting, and sewing for production. 

About You 

You’re a practical, hands-on professional who enjoys working in a creative, fast‑paced workshop environment. Whether you’ve gained your skills through industry experience or hold a relevant qualification (such as a Certificate IV in a Fashion or Apparel-related discipline), you bring confidence in garment construction, sewing techniques, and using industrial equipment.

You are organised, reliable, and comfortable managing learning spaces to ensure they are safe, efficient, and well‑prepared for training delivery. You enjoy supporting both teachers and students, providing guidance on machinery use, garment cutting, pattern layout, and sample construction. With a strong focus on WHS, attention to detail, and a willingness to pitch in wherever needed, you help create a high‑quality, industry-aligned learning experience within our fashion studios.

To find out more about the role, click to view the Role Description.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion

We are committed to creating a culturally safe and accessible workplace where dignity, trust, respect, and the promotion of diversity and inclusion are valued, so you can safely bring your whole self to work and connect with your community through our many diverse employee networks. If you require an adjustment in the recruitment process, please contact our Talent Acquisition Advisor listed below.

A career of life-changing impact awaits you. Apply now!

Applications close: Sunday 22 March at 11.55pm AEDT

To apply for this role, click on 'apply now' and provide:

• Your current resume
• Copies of your qualifications, where applicable, (upload as one PDF file). Certified copies preferred; these will be required if successful for the role.
• Response to one targeted question when prompted in the application form (max 300 words)

Targeted Question: Provide an example of when you prepared or maintained a workshop, studio, or technical space to support training or production activities. What steps did you take to ensure the space was safe, organised, and ready for use?

General recruitment and adjustment enquiries: contact Talent Acquisition Advisor, Sarah Aitchison, sarah.aitchison4@tafensw.edu.au or 0435 078 206.

Role-specific enquiries: contact Roster Controller, Sandra Holgate sandra.holgate@tafensw.edu.au

For helpful insights into preparing your application, TAFE NSW’s recruitment process, and getting interview ready, read through our Application Process and the interactive Capability Application Tool.  

This is a child-related position. A Working with Children Check is a prerequisite for anyone in child-related work. It involves a national criminal history check and review of findings of workplace misconduct. 

To be eligible for positions at TAFE NSW, you need to be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Australia or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand passport.

An eligibility list, valid for 18 months, may be created for this position, and position(s) of the same classification that subsequently becomes vacant, may be filled via this recruitment.

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