Big guns help Government tackle skills shortage

5/8/05
The Gallop Government has today announced a wide-ranging action plan to tackle skills shortages in Western Australia's key industries.
Speaking at the Career Choices Expo this morning, Premier Geoff Gallop said the reforms would help overcome the serious shortage of people and skills facing industry and the trades.
The action-plan includes:

• the creation of a Skills Formation Taskforce to develop strategies to ease the skills shortages in the trades and to increase the take-up of apprenticeships and traineeships. The taskforce will be chaired by the former Minister for State Development, Mr Clive Brown;

• the appointment of a new Chair of the State Training Board, Mr Keith Spence, a senior executive with Woodside Petroleum Ltd;

• the formation of a Critical Skills Training Fund to bring under the one umbrella a number of existing programs to meet immediate industry skills needs; and

• the establishment of an Industry Brokerage Team to assist small and medium size enterprises to identify and get access to appropriate training.

Dr Gallop said WA's booming economy, driven by a surging resources sector and a rampant real estate market, had led to significant skill shortages across the country.
"The strong economic growth forecast for WA for the remainder of the decade and, in particular, the continuing resources boom, is likely to result in a continuation of the existing skill shortages," he said.
"That is why this Government is taking an aggressive approach to address these shortages which are threatening the economic development of our State.
"The Government is providing new jobs and opportunities for Western Australians."
The Premier said Mr Spence and the members of the new-look State Training Board would manage the initiatives.
Education and Training Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich said more than 20,000 people were expected to attend this year's three-day Career Choices Expo.
"Each year the expo has grown both in terms of the number of visitors and exhibitors and has helped hundreds of thousands of people learn more about education, training and employment opportunities," Ms Ravlich said.
"The expo brings together hundreds of career options under the one roof. The universities, TAFE colleges, private training providers and employers are all on hand at the expo to help you find out about careers and courses."
Premier's Office: 9222 9475
Office of the Minister for Education and Training: 9213 6800