Legislative Council Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1) 54 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Answers to Questions Career Employment Services Funding Career Employment Services Funding The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Career Employment Services Funding In reply to the Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (20 June 2018 and 21 June 2018). The Hon. R.I. LUCAS Legislative Council Treasurer Career Employment Services Funding The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer): I have been advised of the following: Decisions about programs are being considered to ensure that initiatives deliver tangible outcomes, providing value for taxpayer money, and are consistent with government policy as the government has previously stated. Further information will be provided after the budget is released on 4 September 2018. In response to your further question on 21 June 2018 I have been advised of the following: Funding for these programs under the policy of the former government ceased on 30 June 2018. The Marshall government is now investing $100 million over four years to increase the number of apprenticeships and traineeships by an additional 20,000. We have also secured $102 million from the commonwealth through the Skilling Australians Fund to support this target. We are delivering an industry led training sector and aligning training with real job outcomes for South Australians. Training our workforce in line with industry needs will provide increased employment outcomes. Employment and career service organisations may wish to pursue services in line with our plan to deliver jobs. Our focus includes apprentices and trainees for: Occupations in demand, including in particular in the defence sector; Industries and sectors of future growth; Responding to current skills shortages, including in regional areas; and Trade apprenticeships Critically, we are implementing major reforms and making significant investments to boost training participation in South Australia to address the unacceptable decline in apprenticeship and traineeship commencements over the last five years. From 2012 to December 2017 the number of people commencing training in South Australia fell by 16,900 to 8,765—66% decrease. The commonwealth government 2018-19 budget announced the Career Transition Assistance Program for mature aged jobseekers. The state government is focused on delivering key programs to meet our agenda to increase training participation and employment opportunities—funding support has been streamlined, with duplication removed.