Polytechnic West is one of the largest training providers in the state and teaches and instructs in a range of areas from trade-based apprenticeships to business and finance to aviation across its eight campuses in Bentley, Carlisle, Midland, Thornlie, Balga, Jandakot and two Armadale campuses.

Polytechnic West had existed under various guises since the early 20th century, when Perth Technical School was established to train professional and skilled workers to for the new railway technologies that supported the state's agriculture and mining industries.

[6] The most recent change was from Swan TAFE in 2009 as part of a government initiative in which State Training Providers were granted more independence and encouraged to "reinvent themselves to meet the requirements of the volatile economic climate".

Polytechnic West was Western Australia's Large Training Provider of the Year in 2011.

[8] Polytechnic West was merged with the Challenger Institute, to become the South Metropolitan TAFE.