No. 85

SUPPORT FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING 

Minister for Education and Training Andrew Barr, today announced the 2007-08 Budget contained an extra $6.2 million over four years for vocational education and training grants. 

Mr Barr said the Government was responding to continuing high demand for vocational training, particularly in skills-shortage areas such as building and construction, community services and information technology.

“The Stanhope Government has a strong commitment to vocational education and training as a means of contributing to the economic and social well-being of the ACT,” Mr Barr said.

“The ACT has built a strong training culture and employers can see the benefits of employees undertaking nationally recognised training in terms of increased retention and productivity.  This funding will allow the ACT Government, in partnership with employers, registered training providers and students, to fill jobs and improve the competitiveness, profitability and growth of business in the ACT region.”

Mr Barr said vocational training was in high demand in the ACT.  A national comparison of apprenticeship and trainee activity for the year ending 30 September 2006 with the previous year shows:
•	the ACT increased the number of commencements in apprenticeships and traineeships by 10% - the highest state/territory increase – compared to 1% increase nationally;
•	the ACT leads the country in the percentage increase for commencements at Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level IV – 26% compared to 15% nationally;
•	ACT Government strategies to ease skills shortages in key areas are working. The majority of those in training in the ACT were in the skills shortage industries targeted by the ACT Government in cooperation with industry; and
•	young people are completing their apprenticeships and traineeships at a higher rate than elsewhere in Australia. The ACT had the highest completion rates nationally for young people under 19 and for higher-level qualifications at AQF level IV and above in the September 2006 quarter.

“To maximise the skills of the workforce to meet current and future requirements, the Stanhope Government will continue to address skills shortages and to maintain numbers of Australian Apprentices in the ACT.  We will commit $1.5 million (indexed) per annum to maintain funding for Australian Apprenticeships,” Mr Barr said.