House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Adult Literacy and Numeracy ADULT LITERACY AND NUMERACY Mr SIBBONS House of Assembly Mitchell ADULT LITERACY AND NUMERACY Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (14:29): My question is to the Minister Assisting the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education. Can he advise of any opportunities for South Australians to improve their language literacy and numeracy skills? The Hon. T.R. KENYON House of Assembly Newland Minister for Recreation Minister for Road Safety Minister for Veterans' Affairs Minister Assisting the Premier with South Australia's Strategic Plan Minister Assisting the Minister for Employment ADULT LITERACY AND NUMERACY The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland—Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister Assisting the Premier with South Australia's Strategic Plan, Minister Assisting the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education) (14:30): With your indulgence, ma'am, I would just like to add my welcome to the children from St Ignatius College, my old school. My chaps. I also add my condolences to the family of Roger Cundell today. I attended the funeral, and I was honoured to do so. I thank the member for Mitchell for his question, and I just want to note his keen interest in adult education. More than 2,000 adult South Australians will have the opportunity to improve their literacy and numeracy skills through the state government's $3.9 million Community Education Training initiative. The Adult Community Education Grants program provides funding to support South Australian adults experiencing low levels of literacy and numeracy to participate in learning, training and jobs. I am particularly pleased with the applications received from the second grant round of the Adult Community Education's Foundation Skills Grants program. The funding provided under this stream of Adult Community Education funding will see 2,086 training places offered by community-based, not-for-profit training providers at over 50 sites across the state. This funding will provide accredited training in partnership with TAFE SA so that participants can further improve their skills to access high levels of training and gain employment. An extra $2.175 million for this round of the Adult Community Education's Foundation Skills Grants program is playing an important role in delivering on the state government's job strategy commitment, and brings the total for Foundation Skills Grant funding to more than $3.9 million since the program began last year. We know that people with limited literacy and numeracy face barriers to gaining jobs and further education opportunities. This additional investment provided by the Rann Labor government to the Foundation Skills Grants program builds on the existing Adult Community Education program. It offers real opportunities for the disadvantaged in South Australia and helps them secure sustainable employment. The Skills for All reforms announced in February provide additional support to the Adult Community Education sector in delivering Foundation Skills programs to South Australians so that they can access training and find work. The successful applicants in the latest round include the Tailem Bend Community Centre, Christie Downs Community House, the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and UnitingCare Wesley (Port Augusta), among others. A record 130,000 new jobs have been created in South Australia since the Rann government came into office in 2002. The training provided across the state as part of Adult Community Education will deliver on the state government's Skills for All jobs strategy and helps with creating 100,000 new jobs and 100,000 additional training places over the next six years.