❓ Mr. Tallentire questions the Minister regarding the suspension of school-based traineeships by the Australian Trades College. The Minister deflects blame to the federal government's funding cuts and highlights state government support.
AnsweredQoN 488Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
AUSTRALIAN TRADES COLLEGE — SCHOOL-BASED TRAINEESHIPS
488. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the Minister for Training and
Workforce Development:
What action has the minister taken or will he take against
the Australian Trades College WA for suspending the school-based traineeships
of 61 trainees in the Thornlie, Gosnells and Armadale areas?
488. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the Minister for Training and
Workforce Development:
What action has the minister taken or will he take against
the Australian Trades College WA for suspending the school-based traineeships
of 61 trainees in the Thornlie, Gosnells and Armadale areas?
AnswerView source ↗
The ATC is a group training
organisation that operates in Maddington and Armadale and is owned by the
Australian Trades College. It is a non-government school with registered
training organisations. It was funded by the federal government. On 28 August
the school-based trainees agreed to suspend their training contracts. The group
training organisation had nine electrical school-based apprentices without a
host employer. The federal government has some apprentices online.
Unfortunately, they were unable to find them host employers. Four of the
school-based apprentices have agreed to suspend their training contracts. The
state department has come to the rescue to try to find other alternative host
employers for the people.
As members can appreciate, we want
everyone in this state to have an opportunity to fulfil their dreams of having
an apprenticeship. Unfortunately, they were let down by the federal government
once again. I would be interested to know whether the member has actually
written to the federal minister and expressed his displeasure that it has
withdrawn funding in this space and also offered apprenticeships it was not
able to fulfil. The state government has taken up the slack in this area. I am
pleased to say in this state 70 per cent of the money put towards
apprenticeships and traineeships is funded by this state, and it is
increasingly being impacted upon—to the tune of about $70 million over
the past three years.
Again, the point is that they had an ongoing contract with
the Australian Trades College group to examine solutions for the affected
students. The apprentice centres are working to correct this situation and to
assist in finding alternative employment for those affected school-based
trainees, and to report on their progress. I am pleased that we are able to
fill that hole, and if the member wishes to bring other advice to me, I am
happy to discuss it with him and perhaps accommodate that also. I strongly
suggest that the member get onto his federal Labor members and get some support
for the trainees of apprentices in this state.
organisation that operates in Maddington and Armadale and is owned by the
Australian Trades College. It is a non-government school with registered
training organisations. It was funded by the federal government. On 28 August
the school-based trainees agreed to suspend their training contracts. The group
training organisation had nine electrical school-based apprentices without a
host employer. The federal government has some apprentices online.
Unfortunately, they were unable to find them host employers. Four of the
school-based apprentices have agreed to suspend their training contracts. The
state department has come to the rescue to try to find other alternative host
employers for the people.
As members can appreciate, we want
everyone in this state to have an opportunity to fulfil their dreams of having
an apprenticeship. Unfortunately, they were let down by the federal government
once again. I would be interested to know whether the member has actually
written to the federal minister and expressed his displeasure that it has
withdrawn funding in this space and also offered apprenticeships it was not
able to fulfil. The state government has taken up the slack in this area. I am
pleased to say in this state 70 per cent of the money put towards
apprenticeships and traineeships is funded by this state, and it is
increasingly being impacted upon—to the tune of about $70 million over
the past three years.
Again, the point is that they had an ongoing contract with
the Australian Trades College group to examine solutions for the affected
students. The apprentice centres are working to correct this situation and to
assist in finding alternative employment for those affected school-based
trainees, and to report on their progress. I am pleased that we are able to
fill that hole, and if the member wishes to bring other advice to me, I am
happy to discuss it with him and perhaps accommodate that also. I strongly
suggest that the member get onto his federal Labor members and get some support
for the trainees of apprentices in this state.
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