PASSPORT TO SAFETY PROGRAM

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (15:17): My question is to the Minister for Industrial Relations. Can the minister advise the chamber on the progress of South Australia's Passport to Safety program?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:17): I thank the honourable member for her very important question. The Passport to Safety program is an international web-based self-paced learning and test program aimed at young people, in particular, year 10 students who are preparing to enter the workforce for the first time, including work experience, work placement and part-time or full-time work.

Evidence shows that young, inexperienced workers are being injured at up to twice the rate of other age groups, as confirmed in a Safe Work Australia report released in July 2012. According to this report, 41 per cent of 15 to 24 year olds are in casual work and have the highest injury frequency rate across all age and employment groups. With so many young people represented in casual work, it is imperative that programs such as the Passport to Safety program are completed by as many young South Australians as possible before they enter the workforce.

This government, through SafeWork SA and its advisory committee, is committed to supporting the Passport to Safety program in South Australia. SafeWork SA provides resources, as well as playing a leadership role, in generating sponsorship funds to ensure that the program is cost free for our schools. To date, more than 17,000 students from 115 public, independent and Catholic schools across South Australia have registered to complete the 2012 program.

This could not be achieved without the support of sponsors, in particular, the long-term commitment of diamond sponsor, the Mining and Quarrying Occupational Health and Safety Committee, as well as the ongoing support of Employers Mutual, Self Insurers of South Australia, Uranium SA, Flinders University, City of West of Torrens and Nyrstar.

SafeWork SA and industry support has also enabled the development of a number of industry-specific modules, which will be made available in 2013. One example is the Hair2Heart project, which was funded by the SafeWork SA Small Grants program in 2011 and which included a hairdresser module for the Passport to Safety program. A hospitality module will also be available.

For the construction and manufacturing industry, students will be linked to existing programs, such as the White Card and the Safer Manufacturing Working Group's safer workplaces video and induction program. A retail module is also nearing completion. I am pleased to advise that we have already had a commitment of $84,750 in sponsorship from nine organisations in 2012-13.

I would encourage any organisation interested in participating in this worthwhile program, either as a sponsor or in supporting the development of an industry module, to contact SafeWork SA. Reaching and raising the work health and safety awareness of all young people before they enter the workforce will go a long way to ensuring that South Australia's youngest workers lead safe, fair and productive working lives.