Group Training Australia (GTA) and Northern Group Training Ltd (Hobart) are hosting a visit from The Hon Duncan Kerr SC, MP, Friday 27 January. GTA is the peak national body representing over 150 Group Training Organisations (GTOs) employing more than 40,000 apprentices and trainees.

“GTA Ltd welcomes the Mr Kerr’s visit. We are keen to highlight the many positive aspects of the Group Training Network. The Network is known for its diversity and delivery of proactive, innovative and responsive training and employment strategies in the community. Mr Kerr will see these attributes in action when he visits Northern Group Training Ltd (Hobart),” Jim Barron the CEO of GTA said.

“2006 is an important year for the Group Training Network. We are looking forward to working with government, business and schools to address Australia’s response to the current national skills shortage. I am encouraged by Mr Kerr’s visit and his commitment in the area of vocational training,” Mr Barron said.

GTAs latest research paper, Getting it Right: what employers and apprentices have to say about apprenticeships, highlights the need for government to continue to invest in skilling Australia’s workforce.

“Particular points GTA Ltd will be highlighting to Mr Kerr include: the need to boost the public sectors engagement in apprenticeship training, the need to invest further in national training infrastructure, the need to back our young people’s activities, the need to bolster the group training arrangements, and additional funding to high skill apprenticeships,” Mr Barron said.

“At GTA we are keen to explore constructive policies with the government and opposition to ensure that what we are doing now, in terms of implementing training policies and programmes, continues to have a positive and lasting effect on the nation’s future economic activities,” Mr Barron concluded.

For further information regarding the Getting it Right policy document, please visit:
http://www.grouptraining.com.au/about_gtraining/national_projects/nat_skills_shortages/getting_it_right.html