Ceduna

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:34): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills a question about her recent visit to Ceduna.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: Regional South Australia is doing it tough. It is our job as members of this place to connect with people in rural areas and hear directly from them. Can the minister inform the house about her recent visit to Ceduna and her experiences while there?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:35): I thank the honourable member for his question. As members of the Legislative Council are aware, it is most important that members directly hear from regional community members.

Just last month, I visited Ceduna to meet directly with community leaders, service providers and program participants. Whilst there, I visited Thevenard Fish Processors, Crossways Lutheran School, Ceduna Area School, Bernadette's Place café, Eyre Futures, TAFE SA, Ceduna campus and Koonibba Aboriginal community. I was very pleased to see that passion with which the community leaders engage with the community to develop solutions to complex issues in the local area.

Thevenard Fish Processors is a small family-owned and operated seafood processing place. They supply business with wholesale. With over 20 years of operations, they are well connected and very active in the community. Thevenard works with about 10 permanent commercial fishers and suppliers and also supplies the Adelaide markets and outlets, including Barnacle Bill and most restaurants from Ceduna to Port Lincoln.

Crossways Lutheran School was a very impressive place. It provides education from reception to year 10. Aboriginal children make up the vast majority of students there, and it was a great pleasure to see so many dedicated teachers at the school. Crossways has previously hosted two Indigenous trainees through a 12-month traineeship program and are keen to increase the delivery of VET at their school.

I spoke with Crossways Lutheran School in relation to their ongoing discussions with TAFE about using the TAFE SA facilities at Ceduna. I am pleased to report that TAFE SA have entered into an arrangement with Crossways so that Crossways can use the facilities to deliver woodwork to their year 8, 9 and 10 students. In relation to the two trainees, both trainees successfully completed Certificate III in Education Support and performed a pivotal role as Indigenous mentors to current students.

I was pleased to tour the Trade Training Centre at the Ceduna Area School which provides students with the opportunity to gain practical skills by completing VET competencies in aquaculture an industry of significance to the Ceduna area. Students attending the Trade Training Centre build employability skills that transfer successfully into the workplace. Students from years 10 to 12 have been involved in water quality testing, feeding fish and cleaning tanks. They have also graded the fish by weighing and measuring them and recording data. It is a great program.

To support young people to develop pre-employment skills and access accredited training, the Ceduna Arts and Cultural Centre, Eyre Futures and Complete Personnel established Bernadette's Place training café. I was extremely pleased to be able to visit the café and hear from both the staff of partner agencies and also a young woman who was volunteering in the café whilst undertaking training in safe food handling, barista and customer service.

Some of the young women who have volunteered in the café have gone on to secure employment in the local area. This is a great example of community groups coming together to support local young people, in particular, to develop the skills they need to successfully transition to employment. There were great Aboriginal artworks in there as well, with the work of some magnificent local artists.

I also met the staff of Eyre Futures Incorporated. They work closely with schools, businesses and communities across South Australia to provide services to young people and their families. In 2015-16, Eyre Futures will receive $75,000 in funding through the Adult Community Education (ACE) program to deliver foundation skills and accredited and non-accredited training to an estimated 120 participants in the Ceduna and Port Lincoln area.

The TAFE Ceduna campus has over 500 students in a range of courses, including short courses, certificate courses and diplomas. The majority of staff based at the Ceduna campus are from TAFE SA's Aboriginal Access Centre. Significant numbers of students in the regions access TAFE courses through e-learning or by undertaking training off site in industry or community facilities. Children's services training is being undertaken from the nearby Koonibba and Foundation Skills Training and delivered in both Yalata and Oak Valley communities. I thank the member for his question.