Hon. Ljiljanna Ravlich questions the Minister for Training and Workforce Development about funding for retail training, particularly for lower qualifications, given the expected increase in demand due to extended retail trading hours. The Minister's response indicates existing funding avenues are sufficient.

AnsweredQoN 3182Legislative Council
Asked
17 November 2010
Portfolio
Training and Workforce Development

QuestionView source ↗

Given that the new extended retail trading hours will mean that more trained staff will be needed, I ask -
(1) Is the Minister aware that at least one Registered Training Organisation recently had to turn away 20 job seekers wishing to train in the retail industry because there wasn’t enough funding for these lower qualifications?
(2) As many young, early school leavers are attracted to the retail sector, how does the Minister expect them to be trained if the only qualification in the retail sector that attracts funding under the PPP is a Diploma of Retail Management?
(3) Why isn’t the retail sector deemed a priority in terms of training in the lower qualifications given that there is likely to be a shortage of skilled workers because of the increased hours?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
14 February 2011
Responded by
Minister for Training and Workforce Development
Response time
89 days
(1)   No.  The funding for job seekers under the PPP is competitively allocated and private training providers are not necessarily funded for all the training places requested.  This is a highly competitive market.  If the training provider had insufficient training places available, the job seekers should have been referred to other private training providers or to State Training Providers who could deliver the training.
(2)   The PPP is not the only source of funding for training in the retail sector.
The State Government will continue to fund retail traineeships under user choice arrangements through private training providers and State Training Providers.  The number of traineeships available is dependent on employer demand.  In addition, the State Government will continue to fund other institutional retail training through private training providers and State Training Providers.
(3)   The State Government continues to provide significant opportunities for training in the retail sector in lower level qualifications through a range of pathways, including traineeships and institutional pathways.
In 2009, there were approximately 2080 course enrolments in publicly funded retail traineeships across the private and public training sectors, and approximately 900 course enrolments in publicly funded institutional retail qualifications across both sectors.  Data for 2010 is not yet available.
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