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MAJOR STEP TOWARD 2007 START FOR AUSTRALIAN TECHNICAL COLLEGE WESTERN SYDNEY

November 23, 2006

The Australian Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, the Hon Gary Hardgrave MP, along with the Member for Greenway, Mrs Louise Markus MP, today announced a consortium to establish the Australian Technical College – Western Sydney.

The new consortium will be led by the Master Plumbers Association of NSW working with the Anglican Schools Corporation and representatives from the building and construction, plumbing, electro-technology, automotive and commercial cookery industry associations.

The College will initially be based at Rouse Hill Anglican College as an interim arrangement for 2007.

New ATC buildings will be constructed in time for the 2008 school year and potential sites for the College will be evaluated over the coming months.

Students at the College will start an Australian Apprenticeship at the Certificate III level while they complete their Higher School Certificate.

“This is terrific news for the people of the Western Sydney region, offering young people the opportunity to undertake a high-quality integrated education and training programme in Years 11 and 12 that will lay a solid foundation for a successful career in the trades,” Mr Hardgrave said.

Mrs Markus said the establishment of the college was vital for the future of the Western Sydney region.

“It’s all about opportunity and choices for the young people in Western Sydney, but it will also mean business in the region will also be big winners with high-quality apprentices being trained according to industry standards,” Mrs Markus said.

“The College will give business here in Western Sydney exactly what they want, work-ready, quality apprentices who will also emerge with their Higher School Certificate, which opens up even more career pathways.”

Mr Hardgrave said the close working relationship between the Australian Government and regional business had ensured a College was operational in Western Sydney in 2007

“Industry has embraced the programme, ensuring that young people in Western Sydney will have a new option to progress towards a career in the trades,” Mr Hardgrave said.

The Howard Government’s $343 million initiative to establish 25 Australian Technical Colleges in 24 regions will help to meet the increasing demand for skilled tradespeople throughout Australia and, once fully operational, will provide up to 7,500 young Australians with the opportunity to combine an Australian School-based Apprenticeship in a trade with senior secondary school studies.

The Australian Government has signed 20 Funding Agreements to establish ATCs at a cost of more than $291 million. There are five ATCs already operating, with at least a further 15, including Western Sydney, expected to open in 2007.
Mr Hardgrave used the announcement to reinforce the urgency for the NSW Training Minister Carmel Tebbutt to remove impediments to allowing Certificate III Australian School-based Apprenticeships in a trade by the start of the 2007 school year.

“Ms Tebbutt is robbing 10,000 young people of the opportunity to undertake a School-based Apprenticeship in a trade and the people of New South Wales have to send a message to her Labor Government at the ballot box in the upcoming election that they deserve the same choice and chance to fulfil their potential as the rest of Australia,’’ Mr Hardgrave said.

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.

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.

Minister Hardgrave’s Media Adviser: Nikki Voss 0402 896 100

Mrs Markus’ Media Adviser: Natasha Moore 0400 794 966

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