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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-06-14 Daily Xml
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Ministerial Statement

SKILLS FOR ALL

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (14:06): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: South Australia is poised on the cusp of a most dramatic and exciting new phase in its history, and the state's economy is undergoing a major transformation. The state government is determined to do everything we can to secure our strong economic future. A highly skilled workforce ensures South Australian businesses—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —are resilient, innovative and competitive in a global economy. For individuals, achieving recognised qualifications is one of the most effective ways to secure a job and earn an income. So, it is important that we aim to build a more highly skilled workforce that will help South Australian workers get ahead and help South Australian businesses adapt and innovate in this new economy.

This morning, I had the great privilege to launch the Skills for All campaign at Smart Fabrication, a metal fabrication workshop located in the heart of Port Adelaide. As members would be aware, starting from the beginning of July, hundreds of courses will become free, hundreds will be subsidised, and there will be more choices of courses. This campaign is encouraging young people and older South Australians to take advantage of the opportunities to get a start in the workforce, improve their skills, or change careers.

The three people featured in the TV ads tell their own stories about how training has transformed their lives and got them into work. I had the pleasure of meeting first-year apprentice boilermaker Aaron, who features in one of the ads. He told me how he had left school early and decided to do a pre-vocational course before gaining an apprenticeship. Today, I was able to see him in action where he works.

Jenny, who also features in one of the ads, told me how she had always been a stay-at-home mum and never thought that she would get a job. She made the decision to undertake training, which not only gave her new skills but also increased her confidence. She is now working in a restaurant, earning her own pay and able to save for the first time.

These stories are important because they show the impact training can have not only on individuals but also on their families and the broader community. That is why this government has placed such an emphasis on skills and training. That is why our Skills for All initiative is so important to the future of this state. We know we have skills shortages in areas such as engineering, construction, and electro-technology. If we are to share our prosperity, we need to ensure South Australians have the skills for these jobs.

From July, under the Skills for All initiative, many courses will be free in priority areas where there are skills shortages. Overall, about 400 training courses will be free, including certificate I and certificate II courses, accredited reading, writing, numeracy and computing courses, and the priority courses. About 700 certificate III and IV courses and 400 diploma and advanced diploma courses will be subsidised, including 600 courses not previously funded. Students at diploma level and above will also be eligible to defer their course fee payments until they get a job and start earning, under the VET Fee Help Scheme.

My message to people is this: if you are just starting out, or if you are thinking about improving your skills or changing careers, there are opportunities for you. Our economy is rapidly transforming with the demand for low-skilled jobs decreasing, while demand for highly skilled jobs is increasing, in line with future growth in existing, new and emerging industries. Skills for All will help South Australians get the training they need to get a job, change careers, or boost their chance of getting a better-paying job.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

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