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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-07-07 Daily Xml
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INDUSTRY AND INDIGENOUS SKILLS CENTRE PROGRAM

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON (Croydon) (15:02): Can the Treasurer—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: —inform the house about funding to regional South Australian training providers for infrastructure improvements?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Workers Rehabilitation) (15:02): The Industry and Indigenous Skills Centre Program provides capital infrastructure funding for training and skills centred development through two program funding streams: the Industry Skills Centres and VET Infrastructure for Indigenous People. The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations funds the national program on a financial year basis to the value of $11 million, with industry contributions for some of the applications.

The primary purpose is to fund minor capital costs incurred in building, refurbishing or expanding existing facilities to deliver accredited vocational education and training. The funds can also be used to purchase mobile training units and other capital training resources that directly lead to the delivery of identified industry/community VET skills and training requirements. Applicants are expected to be not-for-profit incorporated industry or community organisations, and funding is approved on a nationally competitive basis through independent state evaluation and prioritisation panels.

One of the main objectives of the program is to improve employment opportunities and the ability to deliver effective employment-related training. The program supports the goals of the Skills for All reforms, particularly in raising the skill levels of South Australians and increasing employment participation. Applicants are evaluated, endorsed and prioritised at state level against national and state identified needs for skills through independent state evaluation and prioritisation panels.

I am pleased to say today that, of the funds available nationally, South Australia has secured just over $1.5 million. There have been three successful bids from our state. The Construction Industry Training Centre has won funding of just under $550,000. This will be used to help with the purchase of training equipment to meet skills demands in the specific areas of construction, mining and defence. The Kalka Community Aboriginal Corporation has won just over $500,000 to build a skills training centre to help meet the increasing demand for training in Kalka and other APY land communities.

This new skill centre will give people living in one of our state's most remote regions access to broader training options in environmental management, mining and community development. The Career Employment Group, based in Whyalla, has won funding of just over $460,000 to deliver critical skills through the provision of a mobile simulation facility. This facility will provide light and heavy transport operation and learner driver training through an industry standard and industry utilised program.

To the successful organisations, we congratulate you. You will be bringing state-of-the-art facilities to regional South Australia, and you will be creating opportunities for students across our state to develop their skills. This investment in infrastructure complements the state government's Skills for All reforms, which aim to increase skill levels, lift workforce participation, and provide economic benefit to the state. We will be giving people the opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills, we will be getting them work ready and, ultimately, getting them into jobs.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

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