MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) (09:55:47) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s skills and jobs centres and the recent extension of services they provide for the Victorian community. This afternoon I will have the pleasure of launching the Bendigo Kangan Institute’s skills and jobs centre bus on the steps of Parliament. The bus is the first mobile skills and jobs centre in Victoria.
Skills and jobs centres are located across Victoria and provide a one-stop shop for people looking to start training, workers needing to reskill, unemployed workers needing support and employers looking to upskill or retrain their workers. Skills and jobs centres also link local job seekers with local employers to ensure that job seekers are engaged in quality training that will lead to high-quality jobs. The staff at all of the skills and jobs centres across Victoria are doing an incredible job. They assisted over 40 000 people seeking training or employment across the state last year. Skills and jobs centres cater for people from all walks of life and from different backgrounds and circumstances, and this mobile centre will provide greater access to high-quality independent careers and training advice. The mobile centre will visit a wide range of locations, including expos, shopping centres, community events and schools.
The Andrews Labor government’s investments in skills and jobs centres are yet another example of this government’s commitment to providing high-quality training and job opportunities for all Victorians. Through Skills First we will continue to fund TAFEs, dual-sector universities, and community and high-quality private training providers to support the delivery of responsive and relevant training.