❓ Mr Trenorden questions the prioritisation of apprenticeship and traineeship courses, particularly regarding skills shortages in key industries like mining and agriculture, suggesting current programs focus on lower-return capital works. The Minister's response emphasizes industry-led training and meeting all apprenticeship requests.
AnsweredQoN 1601Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the Minister to the chronic shortage of skilled workers, especially in the North West, relating to the mining, energy resources and agriculture industries that provide much of Western Australia's estimated, annual $45 billion in gross export earnings. The Minister and the Premier have recently announced a skilled trades training program to facilitate its four year, $18.1 billion capital works program. This will mean up to 4,000 apprentices will be trained to undertake costly, low financial return, capital works development and not be involved in alleviating skills shortages in the high investment, economic growth and revenue return, industrial sector in the short to medium term.
(1) Has the Minister actually prioritised apprenticeship and traineeship courses in the best economic and commercial interest of the State and its economy?
(2) Has this prioritisation been based on developing courses that best reflect Western Australia's demand for skilled workers, in its most important and economically viable industries?
(3) What are these courses?
(4) How many are undertaking these courses compared to the known skills shortage in that trade, discipline, or industry?
(5) What is the actual amount being spent by the Western Australian Government on relieving the skills shortage in the 2006-07 financial year?
(6) Has any funding been taken away from any course designed to relieve skills shortages and allocated to another course(s) in this financial year?
(7) The Minister has a ‘Training Requirement Table’ for a minimum number of apprenticeship and trainees as a ratio to the monetary value of labour for a contract:
(a) is there a similar training requirement table that equates an industry’s monetary value to the State’s economy as a ratio to the number of skilled workers it requires compared to the number of skilled workers the State Government will assist in training; and
(b) if not, why not?
(1) Has the Minister actually prioritised apprenticeship and traineeship courses in the best economic and commercial interest of the State and its economy?
(2) Has this prioritisation been based on developing courses that best reflect Western Australia's demand for skilled workers, in its most important and economically viable industries?
(3) What are these courses?
(4) How many are undertaking these courses compared to the known skills shortage in that trade, discipline, or industry?
(5) What is the actual amount being spent by the Western Australian Government on relieving the skills shortage in the 2006-07 financial year?
(6) Has any funding been taken away from any course designed to relieve skills shortages and allocated to another course(s) in this financial year?
(7) The Minister has a ‘Training Requirement Table’ for a minimum number of apprenticeship and trainees as a ratio to the monetary value of labour for a contract:
(a) is there a similar training requirement table that equates an industry’s monetary value to the State’s economy as a ratio to the number of skilled workers it requires compared to the number of skilled workers the State Government will assist in training; and
(b) if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
23 November 2006
Response time
29 days
(b) if not, why not?
It is State Government policy that all apprenticeship training requests are met. Apprenticeship numbers are dependent upon the capacity and willingness of employers to employ apprentices and the availability of suitable apprentices for apprenticeship places. These employment based training arrangements require employers to offer employment before any training commences. Industry determines the need for apprenticeship and traineeship development, and as such there are over 400 apprenticeships and traineeships available to employers. 4.Department of Education and Training figures show that there are over 32,400 apprentices and trainees currently undertaking training in an apprenticeship or traineeship course, which is an increase of 77 per cent over the last five years. While there are no precise figures available about skill shortages in particular areas, the Government's policy is to meet all apprenticeship training requests. 5.Approximately $63 million is being spent on the provision of apprenticeship and traineeship training in 2006/2007. 6.No. 7. (a) No. (b) The Government seeks advice from industry in setting and developing the Vocational Education & Training Plan which sets the priorities for training.
4.Department of Education and Training figures show that there are over 32,400 apprentices and trainees currently undertaking training in an apprenticeship or traineeship course, which is an increase of 77 per cent over the last five years. While there are no precise figures available about skill shortages in particular areas, the Government's policy is to meet all apprenticeship training requests. 5.Approximately $63 million is being spent on the provision of apprenticeship and traineeship training in 2006/2007. 6.No. 7. (a) No. (b) The Government seeks advice from industry in setting and developing the Vocational Education & Training Plan which sets the priorities for training.
5.Approximately $63 million is being spent on the provision of apprenticeship and traineeship training in 2006/2007. 6.No. 7. (a) No. (b) The Government seeks advice from industry in setting and developing the Vocational Education & Training Plan which sets the priorities for training.
6.No. 7. (a) No. (b) The Government seeks advice from industry in setting and developing the Vocational Education & Training Plan which sets the priorities for training.
7. (a) No. (b) The Government seeks advice from industry in setting and developing the Vocational Education & Training Plan which sets the priorities for training.
(a) No. (b) The Government seeks advice from industry in setting and developing the Vocational Education & Training Plan which sets the priorities for training.
(b) The Government seeks advice from industry in setting and developing the Vocational Education & Training Plan which sets the priorities for training.
It is State Government policy that all apprenticeship training requests are met. Apprenticeship numbers are dependent upon the capacity and willingness of employers to employ apprentices and the availability of suitable apprentices for apprenticeship places. These employment based training arrangements require employers to offer employment before any training commences. Industry determines the need for apprenticeship and traineeship development, and as such there are over 400 apprenticeships and traineeships available to employers. 4.Department of Education and Training figures show that there are over 32,400 apprentices and trainees currently undertaking training in an apprenticeship or traineeship course, which is an increase of 77 per cent over the last five years. While there are no precise figures available about skill shortages in particular areas, the Government's policy is to meet all apprenticeship training requests. 5.Approximately $63 million is being spent on the provision of apprenticeship and traineeship training in 2006/2007. 6.No. 7. (a) No. (b) The Government seeks advice from industry in setting and developing the Vocational Education & Training Plan which sets the priorities for training.
4.Department of Education and Training figures show that there are over 32,400 apprentices and trainees currently undertaking training in an apprenticeship or traineeship course, which is an increase of 77 per cent over the last five years. While there are no precise figures available about skill shortages in particular areas, the Government's policy is to meet all apprenticeship training requests. 5.Approximately $63 million is being spent on the provision of apprenticeship and traineeship training in 2006/2007. 6.No. 7. (a) No. (b) The Government seeks advice from industry in setting and developing the Vocational Education & Training Plan which sets the priorities for training.
5.Approximately $63 million is being spent on the provision of apprenticeship and traineeship training in 2006/2007. 6.No. 7. (a) No. (b) The Government seeks advice from industry in setting and developing the Vocational Education & Training Plan which sets the priorities for training.
6.No. 7. (a) No. (b) The Government seeks advice from industry in setting and developing the Vocational Education & Training Plan which sets the priorities for training.
7. (a) No. (b) The Government seeks advice from industry in setting and developing the Vocational Education & Training Plan which sets the priorities for training.
(a) No. (b) The Government seeks advice from industry in setting and developing the Vocational Education & Training Plan which sets the priorities for training.
(b) The Government seeks advice from industry in setting and developing the Vocational Education & Training Plan which sets the priorities for training.
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