Regional traineeship grants boost local skills and jobs

• Cook Government commits $1.75 million to support local jobs in regional communities
• 35 organisations will each receive $50,000 to deliver Regional Traineeship Program
• $250,000 for the WA Digital Inclusion Project to build community capability

The Cook Government has awarded $1.75 million to build local jobs and workforce capacity in regional communities across Western Australia.

The Regional Traineeship Program grants will be shared among 35 successful applicants, with each set to receive $50,000. 

The program is a competitive grants scheme available to WA Community Resource Centre (CRC) Network members and select regional Local Government Authorities (LGA) to assist with the cost of employing a trainee. 

The one-off payment supports vocational training to develop trainee skills and knowledge to help meet the needs of local businesses and industry in the regions. 

In addition to the traineeship grants, the Western Australian Council of Social Service will receive a $250,000 grant as part of the WA Digital Inclusion Project, which is helping equip residents in regional WA with digital skills that are required now and for the future. 

The funding will support targeted in‑person training for CRCs in remote and isolated areas, and broader online training resources for staff and volunteers.

This will help build capability, and other initiatives will bring together service providers and tools to further upskill CRCs and the community.

This initiative expands on a successful 2025 pilot delivered with remote CRCs, which achieved strong improvements in digital literacy knowledge and confidence across 11 communities.

Comments attributed to Regional Development Minister Stephen Dawson: 

"The Cook Government is delivering an important program which is supporting the upskilling of regional workers across Western Australia.

"Over the past seven years, 362 grant recipients and their communities have benefited from the program across regional and remote areas.

"Funding for the WA Digital Inclusion Project will help improve digital literacy in the regions, giving more people the skills and confidence they need for the future."

Comments attributed to Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:

"We know that people who train locally are more likely to stay and work locally. That is a good outcome for communities and reinforces the importance of training that delivers local jobs in our regions.

"This program complements the Cook Government's investment and support for regional apprentices and trainees through our TAFE system." 

Recipients of the 2025 Regional Traineeship Program grants