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Joint Media Release
| Minister for Vocational and Technical Education |
Federal Member for Dawson |
Minister assisting the Prime Minister
The Hon Gary Hardgrave MP |
De-Anne Kelly MP |
RURAL SKILLS CENTRE FOR QUEENSLAND’S ECONOMIC ENGINE ROOM
November 20, 2006
The Australian Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, the Hon Gary Hardgrave MP, and Nationals MP for Dawson, De-Anne Kelly, today announced the establishment of a Rural Skills Centre at Sarina in central Queensland.
The Australian Government will invest $425,000 in the Rural Skills Centre, which will be located beside Sarina’s new agricultural centre.
Central Queensland hosts the world’s largest coal exporting facility and skilled workers are in high demand, particularly in mining and agriculture.
The Centre will offer Certificate I – II Rural Operations, with Certificate III initially provided by The Australian Agricultural College - Emerald Campus. Certificate I - II Engineering, short vocational and technical education courses, and Australian School-based Apprenticeships will also be offered.
Mr Hardgrave said the project would be funded through the Australian Government’s National Training Infrastructure Programme.
“The funding will be used to purchase engineering equipment, aquaculture equipment, a Rhino all-terrain vehicle, a case tractor and to refurbish current facilities to cater for the additional courses now on offer,’’ Mr Hardgrave said.
“This Centre will also act as a catalyst for further economic prosperity by helping to meet the needs resulting from strong growth in the mining and agricultural industries in the Mackay region of Queensland.
“This initiative is a great example of local business and industry partnering with their community and the Australian Government to expand training delivery to meet growing skills needs of the region,” Mr Hardgrave said.
Local farmers and businesses such as Mackay Canegrowers Ltd, Australian Lychee Growers Association, Agforce, Graham Engineering Pty Ltd, Heartland CDEP Co-operative Ltd, BM Alliance Coal Operations Pty Ltd, have taken an active interest in the establishment of the Skills Centre.
CSR Sugar has also provided support for the project by selling the Sarina State High School a small parcel of land at low cost to enable the agricultural unit to be established.
“This Centre will provide TAFE-level training to the region’s high school students and will be a significant advantage to those wanting to study a trade full-time after they finish school,” Ms Kelly said.
“Importantly, it will provide school-based training in high-demand areas such as steel fabrication, boilermaking and fitter and turning.”
The Australian Government is delivering a range of initiatives between 2006 and 2009 as part of its $11.3 billion investment in Australia’s future – the largest commitment to vocational and technical education by any government in Australia’s history. It includes:
- $781 million over 5 years from the Skills For The Future package which is 93% of the total funding;
- $5 billion over the life of the current Commonwealth-State Skilling Australia’s Workforce Agreement for the provision of training including through Registered Training Providers across all States and Territories;
- Helping to ease the early financial burden on apprentices by providing apprentices starting an eligible apprenticeship with a tool kit worth up to $800;
- A $1000 Commonwealth Trade Learning Scholarship with $500 paid at the successful completion of each of the first and second years of their apprenticeship in an eligible trade with a small or medium size business;
- Extending the Living Away From Home Allowance to third-year apprentices who have moved away from home to take up or remain in an apprenticeship; and
- $10.6 million over four years to extend incentives for employers of higher level apprentices in key growth areas.
In 2006 alone the Australian Government is investing funding of $2.6 billion in the vocational education sector, a real increase of 88% compared with March 1996 funding levels.
The commitment of the Australian Government to vocational and technical training and to providing training opportunities for all Australians is unprecedented in Australia’s history.
Minister Hardgrave’s Media Adviser: Nikki Voss 0402 896 100
Mrs Kelly’s Communications Officer: Bard Matthews 0409 613 265
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