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Media Centre$23 MILLION TO PROMOTE TRADE SKILLS EXCELLENCE10 May 2005 MINBUD 11/05 Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, Gary Hardgrave today announced the Australian Government will provide $22.9 million over four years to establish the Institute for Trade Skills Excellence. The Institute, an election commitment, will provide industry, as a key client of the national training system, with the capacity to identify, acknowledge, reward and promote excellence in trade skills development and training. It will promote the quality of trade skills training and the status and profile of a career in the trades. "The Australian Government believes that for far too long, a career in the trades has been seen by many as a second rate career alternative," Mr Hardgrave said. "The Institute will promote trade skills excellence and raise the status and value of trade skill training to the wider Australian community, especially in those trades where there are skills gaps. It will be a key promoter of the message that a trade qualification is nationally recognised with strong prospects of a personally and financially rewarding career." This is one of a number of measures the Government is introducing to target skills needs in trade areas. "Addressing skill needs is critical to ensuring Australia’s continued strong economic performance," Mr Hardgrave said. "This initiative supports the Government’s desire to work with industry to develop and implement solutions to the skill needs of industry. "The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence will be established in the second half of 2005 and will add an important dimension to recognising and improving our approach to quality and the profile of trade skills training."
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