"Today's policy announcements in Newcastle by Labor's Jenny Macklin and Anthony Albanese specifically targeting group training in the battle against skills shortages are very welcome and will be applauded by all in the network" said Jim Barron, CEO of Group Training Australia (GTA).
Labor's plans to pump $186 million through group training arrangements creating 13,600 traditional trade apprenticeships are particular recognition of group training's dual capacity to work effectively in regional Australia and with small to medium sized business.
Group training is the ideal employment and training intermediary between employers and apprentices and trainees. Labor's announcements and the very sizeable injection of additional funding are both critical acknowledgments of this fact. Importantly, the announced increased funding would enhance the ability of group training organisations to deliver additional mentoring, pastoral care and support to the targeted client groups.
Today's announcements by Labor come hot on the heels of a series of major Coalition policies on apprenticeships, vocational education and training and skill shortage.
"It is a huge step forward in the political and policy debate in this country when both the Coalition and Labor parties are committing so much political and financial capital to vocational education and training. The previously little heard of second cousin twice removed from the mainstream "university/schools" family is now all the rage. That is a great thing for all of us working in a sector serving the vocational and training needs of some 1.7 million Australians.
"GTA congratulates Opposition Leader Mark Latham and the Employment, Education and Training spokespersons, Macklin and Albanese, on providing a substantial increase in funding for group training organisations to deliver increased trade apprenticeships.
"In the recently declared war on skills shortages, today's announcement by Labor is very important and a welcome vote of confidence in the effectiveness of group training.
