STATE TRANSITION PROGRAM

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (14:48): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Can the minister advise the house about the support provided to students with a disability to make their transition from school to employment?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development) (14:48): I would like to thank the member for Mitchell for this very important question. On Monday 14 November I was very privileged to attend the graduation ceremony for students from the State Transition Program—a program that has been in operation for about 12 years—where the state government funds Personnel Employment, a disability employment service, to assist students with disabilities to undertake vocational educational courses.

In 2011 students undertook units from a wide range of VET courses including floristry, creative industries, animal studies, hospitality and child studies, to name just a few. The beauty of this program is that students receive individual case management and career counselling and are provided with mentoring during their work placement. After they finish school—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: —they are provided with ongoing support as required. It does give them a head start through employment skills training, accredited industry training, structured work placement and assistance with job seeking with the support of a disability employment service agency. In 2011 there have been 104 students from 45 schools participating in the program, and it was my honour to present about 70 certificates the other night. As part of the ceremony we got to hear from a past student and a present student who reflected on their personal experiences on how the program had helped them make this important transition from school to work, and, in fact, achieving their dream job.

It was a fantastic opportunity for carers, family members and students to celebrate these very significant achievements. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of everyone in this place to congratulate these young South Australians. It was an incredibly moving night. I look forward to them taking their rightful place in our community.

The SPEAKER: The member for Ashford—sorry, the member for Davenport.