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Labor Government Investing In Future Jobs For Ballarat

12 August 2015

The Andrews Labor Government is investing another $1 million to Federation University Australia to support the Ballarat Skills Initiative and grow job opportunities for young people.

The investment will take total government funding for the project to $2.5 million over two years. We are reprioritising the existing project in line with our Back to Work plan, to tackle youth unemployment by providing quality training to make young people job-ready and contribute to local industry productivity.

Minister for Skills and Training Steve Herbert announced the funding at an industry roundtable meeting at Federation University’s SMB campus today.

The Regional Economic Development and Services Review chaired by the Hon John Brumby recommends that the Government support place-based training initiatives to address workforce and industry needs.

Projects funded from this additional money will provide opportunities for young people to access quality training to increase apprenticeship and traineeship commencements and to further align training with the needs of industry in Ballarat.

This funding is on top of the $2.9 million that Federation University received from the $50 million TAFE Back to Work Fund, which is supporting TAFEs to partner with industry to deliver 7000 new apprenticeships and traineeships in growing and emerging industries.

Mr Herbert said the Labor Government was supporting locals in Ballarat to develop the skills they need to get the job they want through a range of initiatives. This includes the $320 million TAFE Rescue Fund, to help TAFEs come back from the brink of collapse due to years of cuts by the former Coalition Government.

It also includes $125 million for 10 new Tech Schools, including one in Ballarat, to develop job-ready skills that will better connect secondary school students to their futures.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert

“Despite significant skill shortages, training enrolments in Ballarat have fallen in recent years after massive Coalition cuts to TAFE funding.”

“This extra $1 million in funding for Federation University to support the Ballarat Skills Initiative, will give businesses the training programs they need to attract and retain workers, supporting the regional economy to grow and create more local jobs.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Wendouree Sharon Knight

“The Andrews Labor Government is committed to helping young people in Ballarat get the skills they need to get a job in the local community.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Buninyong Geoff Howard

“This Government is helping students and industries come together to better align training, so they can get the skills they need to get the job they want.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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