Fleurieu Peninsula Skills Training and Development

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:05): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills a question about regional services.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: Investment in skills is crucial in supporting employers and industry to have the right skills at the right time and in assisting individuals to engage and succeed in learning, training and work. In regional areas, it is important to ensure that there are networks established that facilitate skills and employment outcomes for people. Minister, will you inform the Legislative Council how people on the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula can engage in skills training and development?

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) (15:05): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. As members would be well aware, I, like minister Brock, have a very keen interest in our regions. Recently, I spent some time travelling to the Fleurieu Peninsula, and I was very pleased to meet with some DFEEST and TAFE staff, along with staff of some of the services funded by the department and, importantly, with students and young people who access those services.

I visited the Victor Harbor TAFE campus, a relatively new state-of-the art facility, which was opened in March 2011 and which provides training in course areas, including enrolled nursing, aged care, disability business, business admin, hospitality, tourism and other foundation skills. Advanced technology and videoconferencing at the campus enables students to access additional courses provided by TAFE SA. I am also advised that the nursing and aged-care facilities offered at the campus are among the most advanced facilities provided on campuses across South Australia.

I was able to speak with both lecturers and students about the facilities and their appreciation of being able to teach and learn in such a wonderful environment. One of the classrooms I visited was an exact replica of a four-bed hospital ward with en suite. I have to say that it did take me back to my nursing days, of which I have very fond memories. This method of learning in a virtual environment also extended to students in hospitality, who operate a small café and who, I can attest, make great coffee.

The students enrolled in business studies also operate in a virtual office, where they trade with invoice and pay accounts to other virtual offices around Australia, which is very innovative hands-on practical learning to back up the theory that is taught.

I was very pleased to hear that, in November 2011, the building won the Ian MacDonald Award, presented by the Australian Civic Trust, for its sustainable architectural design. It is also delivering on student outcomes as well. When compared with the old campus, since this state-of-the-art facility was opened in 2012, there has been an increase of around about 30 per cent in student enrolments and some 500 qualifications issued.

My next visit was to a wonderful collaboration involving DFEEST, Victor Harbor High School and Mission Australia. A youth works project provides one-on-one case management to around 50 mainly young people but not all young people to assist them to overcome learning, training and work barriers to help them transition into work. This case management involves staff working with participants to improve their education and general skills level and also to assist them with connecting to training opportunities, work placements and exposure to different industries. I spoke with several of the young people—there was also a mature-age participant there as well—all of whom clearly very much appreciated the supports given to them and the pathways that have been put in place in relation to employment.

Each one of them spoke about the huge improvement in their own personal confidence and how this affected their ability to seek further learning options. Many have gained qualifications that have gone on to either full-time, part-time or seasonal employment, and I congratulate all of them.

I also visited the Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island Domestic Violence Service (Junction Australia), an invaluable service, with fabulous people doing remarkable work there, and I certainly took the opportunity to convey my condolences to the family, friends and staff who are still feeling a great loss in relation to the recent murder and suicide at Victor Harbor.

The services provided include support for women and children who are living with or escaping domestic or family violence. They can provide counselling, along with support to find alternative accommodation. I am very appreciative of the opportunity to meet with staff and to hear about the quite incredible work they do.

I also visited the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and KI industry leaders group, which is one of 15 such groups established by DFEEST across the state. The meeting was attended by representatives of the local council and key local industry people—primary producers, small business owners and government people as well. It is all done in a voluntary way, so their work is really important. Their role and purpose is to help strengthen the agency's regional engagement with industry and employers at a local level to understand their needs so that we can better fit services to meet the local regional needs, and this assists with ensuring that we are gearing our employment and skills program to the needs of local industry and local businesses.

They were a very energetic group of industry leaders, clearly committed to their region and to growing skills and job opportunities for local people. I certainly thank them and acknowledge their commitment and congratulate them on their efforts, both in their individual business, of which there were some remarkable success stories, but also in showing such commitment to their local regions. I take the opportunity to thank all who took time out of their very busy days to welcome me and spend time discussing with me how they feel, and sharing their experiences. It was a very worthwhile trip.