Page 1120 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 25 March 2015
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We have developed a comprehensive evidence base to underpin skilled capital, ensuring that it is appropriately targeted to support high quality training in areas of the highest need. Skilled capital is informed by extensive research that studied the experiences of other jurisdictions, as well as the extensive range of literature that supports best practice principles. This approach has ensured that the skilled capital initiative will increase access to training across areas of skills need, provide students with the support they need to successfully complete their qualification and reduce red tape for training providers.
The introduction of skilled capital also represents a milestone for the ACT under the national partnership agreement on skills reform. It is a flexible, responsive and sustainable funding model for training. Skilled capital will complement the existing government-supported training pathways such as the Australian apprenticeships program and the extensive range of qualifications already available at CIT.
A skilled workforce is worth much more than the sum of its parts. It will benefit every part of our society. A strong skills and training sector will greatly benefit individuals and families through increased earning capacity, career enhancement and self-esteem. The community at large will see greater prosperity, engagement, and social and human capital. Businesses will see their skills needs met both now and into the future and will benefit from a more productive workforce.
Finally, our local economy will be more productive and creative and will support the emergence of new industries. We have some of the best employment outcomes for graduates of VET programs in the country. Skilled capital will further improve our VET system and help make the ACT an even better place to live and work.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, what training courses have been funded in the most recent round of skilled capital grants, and what has been the interest from students?
MS BURCH: Skilled capital provides funding for 23 of the highest need qualifications at cert III or higher level, as well as 19 pathway qualifications. Qualifications selected for skilled capital were drawn from the ACT skills needs list, which identifies the qualifications that our economy needs and informs the government’s future allocation of funding to training.
As I have already noted, key skill areas included community services, information and communication technology, professional services, motor trades, hospitality, retail and construction. We have created a tool to identify areas of skill shortage in the ACT, as well as VET qualifications that our local businesses and industries need.
The skills needs list identifies 89 courses at cert III to diploma levels in a number of industries that underpin the continued growth of the ACT. Other qualifications on the skills needs list are available for government funding through the Australian apprenticeships program at CIT.
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