- Published:
- Tuesday 14 July 2015
Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert has joined Federal Member for Jagajaga Jenny Macklin and community leaders from across Melbourne’s east to discuss ways to reduce youth unemployment in the region.
Speaking at the Close Youth Unemployment Forum at Melbourne Polytechnic’s Heidelberg Campus, Mr Herbert said the Andrews Labor Government was committed to supporting young people to develop the skills they need to get a job.
Mr Herbert said the 2015-16 Victorian Budget provided a $350 million funding boost to TAFEs to invest in new facilities and deliver more training that lead to jobs.
As part of this funding, $10 million has been set aside to re-open Melbourne Polytechnic’s Greensborough campus, with a $2.5 million TAFE Back to Work grant supporting Melbourne Polytechnic to get 1200 people skilled up for jobs in the growing health care sector.
The Labor Government’s $125 million Tech School initiative will also support young people in the region to develop hands-on skills at a younger age.
Mr Herbert said the Labor Government’s Back to Work Plan to create 100,000 new jobs was also providing opportunities for unemployed young people.
The Labor Government is also providing support to young apprentices, with $3.5 million in funding to continue the Apprenticeship Support Officer program for apprentices aged 15-24 for 12 months.
The Back to Work scheme is helping unemployed young people get work by offering incentives to employers to hire jobless young people.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert
“TAFEs mean skills and skills mean jobs, which is why this government is investing $350 million to help our TAFEs invest in new facilities and deliver more training.”
“By re-opening the Greensborough campus and supporting Melbourne Polytechnic to deliver more training in the growing health care sector, we’re providing more opportunities for our kids to get off the treadmill of unemployment and back on the path to work.”
“We are providing support to help young first-year apprentices and more opportunities for young people in the east to develop the skills they need to get a job by creating more apprenticeships on major projects.”