Training chiefs tap into WA skills scene
18 August 2004
The nation’s peak skills body—the Australian National Training Authority—will tap into the West Australian skills scene this week in a three-day visit.
The ANTA Board and executive team will visit training providers and meet with local business and industry leaders tomorrow (Thursday) in the first extended visit to WA in more than five years.
The nine-person Board and a team of senior executives are in WA this week for the board’s regular monthly meeting, where it considers key national skill policy issues. The board is the main source of advice to a ministerial council of Australian, state and territory training ministers, including WA Education and Training Minister Alan Carpenter.
Chairman David Hind says a full itinerary of discussions and visits to local training providers, including Challenger TAFE, gives Board members and senior executives firsthand knowledge of the work of local training providers and the needs of businesses, communities and students.
“Vocational education and training is a popular and successful product with student, apprentices, trainees and employers because it’s in touch with real workplaces,” he says.
“One in eight working age Australians is learning new skills in the training system and we owe it to them and to the nation’s employers to keep up-to-date with what they and employers need.
“Our discussions here with local industry leaders are critical to making sure WA has the skilled people it needs to continue to be a powerhouse for the national economy.”
The ANTA group is in Perth from today until Friday. Its itinerary includes discussions with industry leaders on Thursday morning and visits and discussions information sessions at Challenger TAFE’s WA Maritime Training Centre at Fremantle, AbMusic and the Clontarf Football Academy.
Media inquiries, including interviews with Mr Hind :
Jan Martin 07 3246 2412 / 0418 875 547
Lisa White 07 3246 2368