The kitchen – an initiative of Youth Projects Incorporated, a not-for-profit body funded by  Victorian, Commonwealth and local government grants – will provide training opportunities in hospitality and health promotion while also providing food for disadvantaged people in the local community.

Mr Brumby applauded the initiative and said it fitted with the aims of both the Victorian Government’s Skills Reform work and the ongoing strategy to reduce disadvantage across the state, A Fairer Victoria.

“This Government is committed to addressing a growing skills shortage and also to reducing disadvantage, and this wonderful program is just the sort of initiative that’s needed to help,” Mr Brumby said.

“By helping those unable to access conventional training opportunities, this initiative will reach out and retrain those who have previously been denied the chance to make our state smarter and to enhance their own lives.

“It is community organisations like Youth Projects Incorporated that will benefit under our proposed upgrades to Victoria's training sector, where we would make it easier for Victorians to re-train or boost their existing qualifications.

“And by doing so, we’ll also reduce disadvantage by allowing more Victorians to access these excellent schemes which can also be used to promote healthy living choices and thus help tackle the looming obesity and diabetes epidemics.”

Mr Brumby said the future of Victoria’s prosperity relied in no small part on skills reforms.
 
“Without an adequately skilled workforce, Victoria will not be able to compete in the industries and global economies of the future,” he said.

“The shortage of skills is creating a barrier to economic growth, holding business back, and limiting employment opportunities for young people.

“Since 1999 this Government has invested an additional $1.1 billion in vocational education and training. This investment in VET has produced real results and ensured Victoria is recognised as the national leader in this area.

“But we need to act now to ensure we have a more dynamic and responsive training system that meets the needs of the 21st Century.”