- Published:
- Monday 23 March 2015
New training courses will give unemployed Victorians the skills they need for the jobs they want, under a $50 million plan unveiled by the Andrews Labor Government.
Premier Daniel Andrews joined Minister for Training and Skills, Steve Herbert, at Holmesglen TAFE’s Moorabbin campus today to announce the TAFE Back to Work Fund.
The $50 million fund will save TAFEs that are struggling financially and help institutes build partnerships with companies in the six growth sectors of the economy identified by the Labor Government’s Back to Work Plan to create at least 100,000 jobs.
The fund will offer one-off grants to TAFEs to develop and expand courses that align with the needs of local employers, including those eligible for the Back to Work Scheme.
Grants will also assist in the financial repair of the TAFE sector, laying the ground work for a more solid financial footing and making the sector sustainable in the future. All TAFEs will be invited to apply for the grants.
TAFE was in crisis under the previous Liberal Government, according to yesterday’s 2014 Victorian Training Market Report, after TAFE cuts that took the system to the brink.
The report found that TAFE enrolments had declined by a third, young people turned away from government subsidised training, and training participation declined across the state, particularly in regional Victoria.
The new fund is in addition to the $320 million TAFE Rescue Fund, which is already helping institutes to recover from the cuts and grow for the future.
Quotes attributable to Premier, Daniel Andrews
“TAFEs mean skills and skills mean jobs. By helping TAFEs get back on their feet, we’re helping our state get back to work.”
“This is about creating new training courses to give unemployed Victorians the skills they need for the jobs they want.”
“Victoria is home to high-growth industries that are crying out for skilled workers.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills, Steve Herbert
“The fund will allow TAFEs to better meet the training needs of businesses that hire unemployed youth, the long-term unemployed and retrenched workers as part of the Back to Work Scheme.”
“Providing extra skills support for the Back to Work Scheme will ensure extra productivity for participating employers.”