SKILLS FOR ALL

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (14:41): My question is to the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills. Would the minister inform the house about what supports are available for students who may have additional social, economic or physical barriers to undertake and complete a training qualification?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:42): I thank the member for this very important question. A central objective of the Skills for All training reforms is to improve the support and services that are available to South Australian VET students to promote qualification completions. We also recognise that in order to do this there is a need to provide support for people who may, for a range of social and economic reasons, find it difficult to participate in training and to complete their training.

That is why I am very pleased that we have introduced the pilot program, Learner Support Services. This additional support is available to students with complex learning needs by providing individualised help across a number of areas that may prove to be barriers. This trial of Learner Support Services is nearing the completion of its second year. It is a flexible service because the range of assistance available will vary according to the individual needs of each person. The services may include, for instance: personal and study support skills, liaison and referrals to external services, career guidance and vocational placement and volunteering support and help while people move into training or go from training to employment.

I am pleased to report that there have been some very encouraging results from this pilot project. For example, some 227 students were supported during the first phase of the project in 2011-12, with an overall completion rate of over 50 per cent achieved. Phase 2 of Learner Support Services commenced in July of last year and will conclude this month. This phase of the trial includes six private Skills for All training providers delivering Learner Support Services, as well as TAFE SA.

Since July 2012, 557 students have participated across a spread of metro and regional TAFE SA campuses. An additional 317 students have received support as at May 2013 in six private RTOs for the 2012-13 year, with 102 students achieving a course completion so far. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the many staff and students and members of the community who support this work through important programs like the adult community education programs, the Abilities for All Program that I spoke about yesterday, the Aboriginal Access Centre in TAFE SA, our Skills for All in Regions programs and of course Tauondi College.