The three technical sites have been running since the beginning of the school year, however were officially opened by vocational and further education Australian Government minister Andrew Robb at the Whyalla site on Wednesday.

"It's a very exciting launch today because the future of Australia and the prosperity in the next 30 years or more is going to be driven by a lot of the industry in this region and similar regions of Australia," he said.

"But it requires highly skilled tradesmen and women to make it happen.

"As a community we have talked down the trades for too long."

Mr Robb said that the Federal Government's objective it to make a high quality technical education as prized as a university education.

According to Mr Robb these Australian Technical Colleges are unique in the way they involve industry across the board and in the training for each trade.

"These students in the Australian Technical Colleges will finish year 12 with a year 12 certificate, with one third of an apprenticeship finished and with two years industry experience under their belt.

"It's a great model and it will build the self-esteem and skills of all these young men and women."

Australian Technical College Spencer Gulf and Outback principal Damien Judd was pleased with the opening and looks forward to the future of the college in Whyalla.

"I think it's a great day to finally get to this point and be officially opened," he said.

"It's great to know you have got such high level support from the Australian Government - it really is a big project and to have people like OneSteel and BHP supporting it is a big thing.

"It's been an amazingly intense last six months and it's good to finally be done."

The Australian Technical College focuses on five trade areas - metal and engineering, building and construction, electro-technology, commercial cookery and automotive.

Opened ... Federal Vocational and Further Education Minister Andrew Robb shakes hands with Australian Technical College Spencer Gulf and Outback principal Damien Judd at the opening of the technical college on Wednesday.