$120.9 million skills boost for the jobs of the future

The Brumby Labor Government will support up to 6400 Victorian workers who want to retrain or who are in industry transition to secure a training place under the $13.8 million new Skills to Transition program – the centrepiece of the 2009 State Budget $120.9 million skills and employment package.

The Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation, Jacinta Allan, said the 2009 State Budget invested responsibly in building up skills in key industry sectors and boosting apprenticeship completion rates and workforce participation to help families through the Global Financial Crisis.

“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to deliver jobs now and support Victorian families, with this budget alone securing up to 35,000 Victorian jobs,” Ms Allan said.

“We are taking action to help Victorians gain the skills they need to access jobs – as a key action in supporting Victorians through the Global Financial Crisis.

“Our record investment in education is building the skills of Victorians – crucial to our jobs strategy and vital to ensuring Victoria capitalises on the worldwide recovery from the Global Financial Crisis.”

Key skills and employment initiatives in the 2009 State Budget include:

• $25 million to extend the Apprenticeship/Traineeship Completion Bonus program for another 12 months. Under this program, employers are paid $3500 for each eligible apprentice and $1300 for each eligible trainee they take on. The bonus responds to the current economic climate and provides employers with additional support to train Victorians;
• $3 million to plan and design an Aviation Training Academy to be based at Melbourne Airport including an aviation maintenance centre, a research wing and a separate pilot training facility in regional Victoria;
• $66.9 million towards a new student management system to commence a landmark upgrade of administrative systems across TAFEs to help prepare for implementation of the Brumby Government’s $316 million skills reform package, Securing Jobs for your Future;
• $10.2 million for New Workforce Partnerships to boost the employment of people facing systemic workforce barriers by linking them with employment opportunities. At least 1150 disadvantaged jobseekers will benefit from the program over two years;
• $2 million for maintenance of state-owned buildings that provide Adult Community and Further Education services; and
• $13.8 million for a new Skills to Transition program to support the securing of training places for up to 6400 Victorian workers who want to retrain or who are in industry transition.

Ms Allan said the new funding further demonstrated the Brumby Government’s commitment to ensuring Victoria had the best training system for both employers and employees.

“Our Government has invested an additional $1.55 billion in VET. This year, we released our historic $316 million skills reform package Securing Jobs for Your Future which provides Australia’s first commitment to give everyone the opportunity of vocational education and training; and creates 172,000 extra training places,” Ms Allan said.