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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 04 Hansard (Thursday, 1 April 2004) . . Page.. 1526 ..

I also acknowledge the vital role of the CIT in revising training packages and supporting a large number of students to obtain qualifications in a diverse array of industries. However, much more could be done to assist businesses that are employing trainees. I hope that today’s matter of public importance will encourage the government to look at the support that it provides for group trainers and industry training boards. We must reduce youth unemployment in the ACT, tackle our learning skills shortages, ensure that we look after the disadvantaged in our community, and ensure continued growth in our economy.

MS GALLAGHER (Minister for Education, Youth and Family Services, Minister for Women and Minister for Industrial Relations) (4.00): I thank Ms Dundas for raising this matter of public importance and for giving me an opportunity to talk about our exceptionally successful vocational education training packages and about trainees and apprentices in the ACT. Let me demonstrate the measure of that success. In the 12 months to December 2003 apprenticeship and traineeship commencements in the ACT increased by more than six times the national rate of commencements.

In September last year the number of apprentices and trainees in training in the ACT was 34 per cent higher than the figure for the previous year. ACT employers have been exceptionally supportive of young people commencing their careers. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research recently published figures showing that the number of apprentices and trainees that commenced training in the ACT is 42 per cent higher than the figure for this time last year.

Let me give members some idea of the areas in which those increased commencements have been occurring. In the automotive industry there has been a 149 per cent increase, from 169 to 420; in the building and construction industry a 65 per cent increase, from 211 to 348; in the business and clerical area a 50 per cent increase, from 653 to 977; in communications a 210 per cent increase, from 48 to 149; in community services, health and education a 55 per cent increase, from 460 to 715; and in finance, banking and insurance a 203 per cent increase, from 144 to 436.

The most recent newsletter of the Construction Industry Training Council states that, while council had been hopeful about maintaining its high 2003 intake numbers, it was pleased that those numbers would probably be exceeded this year—by up to 30 per cent. In December 2003, in the key age group of people aged 20 to 24, 31 per cent of apprentices and trainees were in training in the ACT compared with the national average of 26.6 per cent. Those outstanding results have come about as a direct result of the efforts of this government.

Over the past year the government has more than doubled its activities in directly promoting the apprenticeship and traineeship uptake, and it is continuing to do so. There has been significant expenditure on television, radio, cinema and print advertising. The Training and Adult Education branch of my department is working with Commonwealth-funded new apprenticeship centres to get out the message to employers that there are real benefits for them if they take on apprentices and trainees. This year, as well as promoting training opportunities for young people through advertising and direct consultation with employers and training providers, the government is focusing on providing opportunities

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