ABILITIES FOR ALL

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (15:32): Can the minister tell the house about the initiatives to provide accredited workplace training to—

The SPEAKER: Point of order.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Which minister, Madam Speaker?

The SPEAKER: Member for Taylor, could you ask—

Mrs VLAHOS: I was caught off guard. My apologies.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I am sorry, I can't hear. Would the members on my left be quiet; I can't hear the question. Who was the minister, member for Taylor?

Mrs VLAHOS: My question is to the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education. Can the minister tell the house about initiatives provided to give accredited workplace training to people with disabilities and people with diverse needs in South Australia?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education) (15:32): The Abilities for All program was first delivered back in 2004 and it has grown remarkably since that time. The past seven years have seen the Abilities for All program evolve from being Australia's first statewide program, providing nationally accredited workplace training to people with a disability, to now also addressing the training requirements of people with diverse needs in the community. It has seen about 900 people achieve certificates I and II in business, engineering, furnishing, horticulture and laundry operations.

Earlier in the year, I had the opportunity to attend and present certificates at the graduation ceremony for students who had participated in the program throughout 2010. The graduation celebrated the achievements of 126 participants. Most graduated with a Certificate I in Business, Certificate II in Business Customer Contact or Certificate II in Community Services.

In 2010, the Abilities for All program provided an important path between education and employment with specifically tailored training plans to suit individual needs. This coupled language, literacy and numeracy training with life skills. These now proven techniques are a good example of what can be achieved by people who face major barriers through government, industry and the disability and community sectors working together.

The Abilities for All program has helped the lives of the people who have participated in it and I would like to share a couple of examples. First, there is Lily, who had worked on and off in the gaming industry for over a decade when she found herself contemplating a career change. She knew she wanted to work within the community, so she enrolled in the Certificate II in Community Services at Taperoo Community Centre through the Abilities for All program.

Through the course, Lily made new friends and learnt new skills. The program helped her to see that she could not only make a change in her own life, but she could also help and encourage those most in need. She has now decided to pursue further studies within the community services area.

Secondly, there is Lucky, who acknowledged that he was not moving ahead but he did not quite know what to do with his life. Abilities for All gave Lucky the chance to pursue his dream of becoming a youth worker in a supportive welcoming environment. Lucky has now completed a Certificate II in Community Services and credits the program with helping him to be a better person and to care for others.

Through the Abilities for All program, participants have improved their numeracy and literacy skills as well as their life skills. They have increased their self-confidence and in many cases been able to secure and retain community-based employment. In the last couple of years, Abilities for All has expanded to deliver courses through TAFE SA to students from Barkuma, Barossa Enterprises, Minda and Orana, as well as Bedford, and now works in partnership with community centres across South Australia through Community Centres SA.

Importantly, in a new statewide strategy in 2011, Abilities for All will also be delivered in Port Pirie, which the member for Frome will be pleased to hear, and in Port Augusta, which the member for Stuart will be pleased to hear. Abilities for All is a great model of how an employment-based program can work well. It allows participants to re-engage at their own pace, in an environment where every success, whether it be large or small, is acknowledged. It is an absolute win-win for everyone involved. The program is just one more example of the government's commitment to training and up-skilling. It is of particular importance given that it reaches out to those who may not otherwise consider training linked to employment as a path which they could achieve in.