DOORWAYS TO CONSTRUCTION

The Hon. P.L. WHITE (Taylor) (14:25): Can the Minister for Housing inform the house about the expansion of the Doorways to Construction program, which will deliver training skills to young South Australians on the far West Coast?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Northern Suburbs, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (14:25): The Doorways to Construction program is an important training program which provides real opportunities for young people to gain skills in the construction industry. The project involves the refurbishment of Housing SA properties and has enjoyed considerable success in the northern suburbs. The course has been devised by the Construction Industry Training Board to skill future workers within the industry and give students hands-on experience. Students are taught on site by a program coordinator who is a qualified builder and tradesperson.

Housing SA provides the properties for refurbishment. It provides the requisite materials, the qualified tradespeople who supervise the students to carry out the renovation and a maintenance coordinator to overview each project. Once the upgrades are complete, the properties are returned to Housing SA for allocation to eligible tenants.

The Department for Families and Communities has recently made agreement with the Ceduna Area School to establish a Doorways to Construction project in Ceduna. Over 10 months students will gain skills and be exposed to all aspects of construction such as plumbing, electrical, concreting and carpentry as they undertake a comprehensive refurbishment project. The students are also required to complete four weeks of industry placement throughout the year, which reinforces what they learn on site each week.

The Doorways to Construction program combines practical skills with vocational qualifications. The course covers Certificate I in construction, which is a stepping stone to a wide variety of construction careers, as well as allowing students to gain units towards their SACE. Our government is proud of this initiative which provides students interested in a career in the construction industry with an opportunity to gain real experience, develop their skills and, for many, enter apprenticeships. At the same time, they are helping to improve the lives of disadvantaged South Australians.