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Media Release

HELP FOR INDIGENOUS ADULTS IN REGIONAL AND REMOTE COMMUNITIES TO ACCESS TRAINING

8 May 2007

BUDR 05/07

The Federal Minister for Vocational and Further Education, the Hon Andrew Robb AO MP, today announced new funding to assist Indigenous adults in regional and remote areas to access training opportunities in their local area, particularly through the Australian Government’s Work Skills Voucher programme.

The Australian Government will provide $21.4 million for this programme over four years starting from 1 July 2007, with Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory jointly contributing matched funding.

The Training Initiatives for Indigenous Adults in Regional and Remote Communities Programme will fund projects aimed at attracting, engaging and supporting Indigenous adults in regional and remote communities to take up training through the Work Skills Voucher programme, as well as building the diversity and capacity of the training market in these communities.

"The Government recognises the challenges facing Indigenous adults in regional and remote communities trying to access and successfully complete training that will open up employment opportunities. This important initiative will help provide vocational training for Indigenous adults in their local area," Mr Robb said.

"In some regional and remote areas, current and predicted skills needs could be greatly alleviated if the local Indigenous communities had the necessary skills to participate more fully in the workforce."

Work Skills Vouchers are already making a substantial contribution to reducing the number of adults aged 25 years and over who have not completed Year 12 and have no post-school qualifications. There is a need to provide additional support to ensure that vouchers can be used effectively by Indigenous adults in regional and remote areas, where there is currently often limited or no choice of training providers.

This measure forms part of an agreement made by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) on 13 April 2007. Further information can be found in the Communiqué, available from the COAG website at www.coag.gov.au

Media Contacts

Minister Robb’s Office: Andrew Coombe 0438 777 145

Dept of Education, Science & Training: Media Unit 02 6240 7300

Non-media queries:
13 38 73

Supporting Information

Why is this important?

This programme will fund projects aimed at attracting, engaging and supporting Indigenous adults in regional and remote communities to take up training through the Work Skills Voucher programme as well as building the diversity and capacity of the training market in these communities.
In these areas there is often limited or no choice in training providers and additional strategies are needed to cater for specialised needs, high delivery costs (in part due to low student numbers) and, in some cases, inadequate infrastructure.
Overcoming these barriers is particularly important for Indigenous people as there are still significant disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous training and education outcomes.

Who will benefit?

Indigenous adults in regional and remote areas will benefit directly and there will be a flow-on benefit to local communities and labour markets.

What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?

The Australian Government will provide $21.4 million over four years starting from 1 July 2007, with Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory jointly contributing matched funding. The joint funding arrangement has been agreed at COAG.

What have we done in the past?

This is a new initiative specifically targeted to assist Indigenous adults in regional and remote areas to access and successfully complete Work Skills Voucher training.

More generally, it will also deliver more resources into Australia’s education and training system and engender greater competition in the training market in regional and remote areas, thereby improving the access of Indigenous people in those areas.

When will the initiative conclude?

The Government has approved funding for the Programme until June 2011.