HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS

Ms PORTOLESI (Hartley) (14:25): My question is to the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education. What is the state government doing to support the retention of higher education students in areas of high skill demand?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Youth, Minister for Gambling) (14:25): I thank the honourable member for her very important question. As members would be aware, the government is committed to ensuring that our state's booming resources sector can access employees who have the high level of skills they require and, importantly, that the people of South Australia have the opportunities to acquire those skills.

Therefore, I am pleased to announce that the state government, as part of its election commitment, will introduce 100 higher education scholarships, which are targeted to meet the demand for highly skilled workers in our resources and mining industries. Each scholarship will be worth $2,000, at a total cost of $200,000 over the next three years, with 50 scholarships being made available this year and 25 scholarships in each of the following two years. This program was developed in consultation with the University of Adelaide, Flinders University and the University of South Australia and these scholarships will be available to third, fourth and fifth year engineering and geology undergraduate and honours students.

The specific aim of these scholarships will be to support students in retaining their commitment to their studies and, at the same time, improve and consolidate their career pathways into the mining and resources sector. The scholarships will cover a range of disciplines, including electrical and electronics engineering, mining engineering, mechanical and civil engineering, and geology. The students will be supported to undertake curricula activities associated with their courses, such as producing design projects, field trips, costs associated with undertaking work experience, attending professional conferences, as well as the purchase of books, equipment and other learning resources.

The universities have indicated to me that scholarships awarded after the first two years of university are more appropriately targeted to support students to stay on course, and the aim is to encourage some of our best and brightest to gain the qualifications they desire and transition smoothly into the sustainable career opportunities our state's booming resources sector has to offer. The allocation of scholarships is based on the proportion of students currently studying in the relevant fields at each of the universities, with 40 being made available to students from the University of Adelaide, 20 for Flinders University students and 40 for students of the University of South Australia. This important scholarships initiative is an excellent example of collaboration between the government and the universities and demonstrates the government's commitment to supporting our state's economic growth and providing opportunities for more South Australians to share in the benefits of that growth.