The State Government has taken a further step towards preparing Western Australia for the next surge in the resources industry with a continued focus on skills training and education.
Premier Colin Barnett today announced the creation of the Department of Training and Workforce Development (a shift from the combined Department of Education and Training) to ensure a more focused delivery of both education and training services to the community.
The new Department of Training and Workforce Development continues the commitment on jobs and training established by the Liberal-National Government in this year's State Budget with its raft of initiatives to boost training in WA, including course fee exemptions for unemployed people.
The Government's initiative will:
Increase the skill and competitiveness of WA's workforce
Address emerging skill gaps as the economy grows
Respond to skilled migration demands and labour constraints as they emerge
Deliver a contemporary and relevant apprenticeship and traineeship system that is responsive to industry and community needs
Drive reforms in the training sector, including providing greater independence to TAFEWA Colleges and reducing the complexity of the training system
Build a closer relationship between industry and training providers
Encourage a stronger training culture within industry
Increase participation and upskilling for the unemployed or disengaged from training
Increase the participation of young and indigenous people
Expand access to training in rural and regional areas
Ensure the quality of private trainers, especially when they attract international students
Mr Barnett said the changes would help better prepare WA to capitalise on a period of economic prosperity spanning decades.
"With the system this Government inherited, training was placed in the shadow of the larger education portfolio. This re-focus will change that and elevate the status of training," he said.
"This structure will provide a greater focus on both education and training services and ensure there is an uncluttered commitment and drive by singular departments.
"We have to make training attractive and relevant and a first option for many people, especially young people.
"The new department will focus on elevating training across the State and working across government, at both the State and national level, to plan and prepare Western Australia's workforce to avoid gaps in both skilled and unskilled labour.
"With a period of long-term economic development driven by the resources sector nearing with projects like Ord Stage Two, Oakajee Port, Gorgon, the Perdaman urea plant and our record $8.3billion asset investment program, the Liberal-National Government has been building capacity to ensure jobs and training are delivered.
"We are now ensuring we have people with the relevant skills needed to capitalise on the thousands of job opportunities resource and development projects will create.
"The Liberal-National Government inherited shortages and deficiencies by the former Labor government in many areas and we have to fix problems of the past to ensure we capitalise on the opportunities we are creating for the future.
"Unfortunately Western Australians saw very little benefit out of our recent boom years with land shortages and no long-term strategic planning.
"I want to change that so we focus on a smarter, better trained WA that will reap the rewards of our natural resources and entrepreneurial drive.
"In its first year, the Liberal-National Government has worked ferociously to ensure these projects go ahead. It has been a co-ordinated effort of great intensity, working with companies and the Commonwealth."
Training Minister Peter Collier was enthusiastic about the greater emphasis on training in WA.
"At the training level, we have an immediate job to ensure young people and older people who may have lost their job or require re-training, can acquire skills that will not only enable them to work in the mining and petroleum sector, but also fill gaps left by workers attracted to the resources industry," Mr Collier said.
"Within the resources sector there are hundreds of jobs - from truck driving, geology, and engineering to IT, computer-assisted design and a range of continually evolving scientific advancements that demand ongoing education and training.
"We are also talking about jobs in the automotive industry, construction, hospitality, in laboratories and, importantly, 'green jobs'.
"Unlike the squandered opportunity of the last economic boom, the benefits of the coming sustained economic growth will be used by this Government to improve services in health, education, regional development and law and order and for the most vulnerable and needy in the community."
Premier's office - 9222 9475
Training Minister's office - 9213 7150
