House of Assembly Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Apprenticeship and Traineeship Program APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINEESHIP PROGRAM Mr PICCOLO House of Assembly Light APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINEESHIP PROGRAM Mr PICCOLO (Light) (14:16): My question is to the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education. What indication is there that an increasing number of South Australians are taking up and completing apprenticeships and traineeships? The Hon. P. CAICA House of Assembly Colton Minister for Industrial Relations Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education Minister for Science and Information Economy Minister for Youth Minister for Volunteers APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINEESHIP PROGRAM The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:16): I thank the member for his question and acknowledge his advocacy in his area on matters relating to training and education. I am very pleased to inform the house that some excellent news for our state has recently come to hand. Figures released today by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research for the March 2008 quarter show that South Australia has recorded a sharp increase in the number of people embarking on traineeships and apprenticeships, the largest quarterly rise in four years—and, I might add, at a rate almost three times the national increase. These results recognise the high quality of our state's training system, the growing public awareness of the value of having work-ready skills and the tremendous opportunities that exist in South Australia to enter into rewarding and sustainable careers, especially given the job opportunities associated with our expanding industry sectors and the major projects underway. The figures show that, in the quarter ending 31 March 2008, 7,500 apprentices and trainees commenced their training (16.4 per cent higher than for the same period 12 months earlier), compared to a national increase of 5.5 per cent over the same period. Not only has the number of people commencing an apprenticeship or traineeship increased but it is also very pleasing to note that the number of people completing their training over the 12 months to 31 March 2008 has shown an increase of 6.3 per cent, compared to 2 per cent nationally. It is also very encouraging that the traditional trades recorded the highest level of training growth, with figures indicating that, at 31 March 2008, an estimated 13,000 people were training in traditional trades. That is an increase of 6.5 per cent on a year earlier. Traditional trades commencements were up by 21.7 per cent over the 12-month period compared to 9.5 per cent nationally, and completions are up 24.9 per cent on the previous year's figures, compared to 14.2 per cent nationally. As the Minister for Youth, I am pleased to say that the figures also indicate that young people are completing their training at an increasing rate, with the NCVER data showing a 10.9 per cent increase over 12 months in the completion rate for under 24 year olds, almost double the 6.2 per cent national figure. The total number of people in training as at 31 March 2008 also increased slightly compared to 12 months ago, with approximately 33,900 apprentices and trainees in our system, which is approximately 500 more than 12 months earlier. Females accounted for 35 per cent of the state's total number of apprentices and trainees, which is 2.3 percentage points higher than the national average. I know that the house as a whole will celebrate these figures today. These figures suggest that the government's message about people needing to equip themselves to take best advantage of future job demand, especially in the expanding minerals and defence sectors, is indeed hitting home.