Victorian apprentices are kicking goals and learning valuable skills on the $30 million redevelopment of St Kilda Football Club’s Moorabbin Reserve thanks to the Andrews Labor Government’s Major Project Skills Guarantee.
Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll joined St Kilda CEO Matt Finnis and senior players Josh Bruce and Sam Gilbert, both of whom are doing a carpentry apprenticeship, to inspect the works.
Funded by the Labor Government, St Kilda, the AFL, Kingston City Council and local sporting leagues, the project will include a training facility, indoor netball and basketball courts, the club’s headquarters and a retail hub.
The project has given 18 apprentices and one engineering cadet the opportunity to fine-tune their skills and gain valuable on the job experience.
The guarantee requires contractors on publicly funded major works contracts valued over $20 million to use apprentices, trainees and engineering cadets for at least 10 per cent of the total labour hours.
The Labor Government has created close to 3,500 opportunities for apprentices, trainees and cadets to help shape Victoria’s biggest projects and give them the valuable on-the-job training to further their careers.
The guarantee has already been applied to more than 40 major government projects, with a further 55 projects to apply it in the next two years – totalling more than $25 billion.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll
“We know that the more on-the-job training apprentices get the better off they are when they enter the workforce.”
“Our Skills Guarantee is creating jobs for the skilled tradespeople and engineers of the future – and what better project to get your start on than this massive redevelopment of Moorabbin Reserve.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney
“Apprentices are the backbone of our training system and the future of our workforce – that’s why it’s so important we help them get a start on some of our state’s biggest projects.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Sport John Eren
“We’re proud to be helping the Saints return to their spiritual home and giving grassroots clubs the home base they deserve.”
Quote attributable to Member for Bentleigh Nick Staikos
“Moorabbin is the traditional home of the St Kilda Football club – it’s great we’ve had close to 20 apprentices and engineering cadets getting their start on this significant project.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020