South West locals will benefit from an Andrew Labor Government election commitment to establish one-stop shop Skills and Job Centres across Victoria.
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP today welcomed the Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert’s announcement that the Labor Government will invest $15 million to create the new Skills and Jobs Centres at Victoria’s public TAFE institutes.
Under the former Liberal Government unemployment in the South West skyrocketed with youth unemployment rising to over 20 per cent. These centres will help make sure Victorians don’t become a statistic.
The new hubs will be the first point-of-call for students in the South West who are looking to start training, for those workers needing to re-skill and for unemployed workers needing support for retraining and job placement.
TAFEs will be the key hubs for the Skills and Jobs Centres, ensuring that each of the centres will be tailored to meet the needs of its local community and industries, with coordinated, intensive support services.
Ms Tierney said working with our TAFEs to establish the centres will allow them to build on their already strong links with the industries across the region, and provide an effective, localised rapid response for industries and workers in transition.
A working group of TAFE representatives has been established to work with the Department of Education and Training to consider the scope of services provided by Skills and Jobs Centres and where exactly they will be established.
The former Coalition Government neglected the needs of South West apprentices and trainees, workers and industries in transition and crippled our training system thanks to harsh cuts.
The Labor Government is supporting locals to get the job they want through initiatives including the $320 million TAFE Rescue Fund, which is investing in new facilities and supporting TAFEs.
Ms Tierney said this Government is also supporting TAFEs with our $50 million for the TAFE Back to Work Fund to help them partner with industry to deliver 7000 new apprenticeships and traineeships in growing and emerging industries.
Quotes attributable to Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP
“This $15 million Andrews Labor Government commitment will make sure every south west local has access to the information they need to get into the workforce or to re-skill in a new industry.”
“These new Skills and Jobs Centres will eliminate any confusion for those in the south west by being the first point-of-call for people wanting to train or reskill.”