❓ Ms. Hamilton questions the Minister on the government's TAFE and training initiatives, specifically the group training organisation wage subsidy, and how these support housing construction. The Minister responds by highlighting the expansion of the subsidy program and its positive impact on apprenticeship numbers in the construction sector.
AnsweredQoN 196Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BUILDING AND
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY — TRAINING
196. Ms E.L. HAMILTON to the Minister for Training and
Workforce Development:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
commitment to boost employment in Western Australia's building and
construction sector.
(1) Will the
minister outline how this government is delivering TAFE and training
initiatives such as the group training organisation wage subsidy to boost our
local skilled workforce?
(2) Will the minister advise how
these initiatives are supporting the construction of more houses for WA?
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY — TRAINING
196. Ms E.L. HAMILTON to the Minister for Training and
Workforce Development:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
commitment to boost employment in Western Australia's building and
construction sector.
(1) Will the
minister outline how this government is delivering TAFE and training
initiatives such as the group training organisation wage subsidy to boost our
local skilled workforce?
(2) Will the minister advise how
these initiatives are supporting the construction of more houses for WA?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) As
the Premier told us earlier, it was great to be at the Construction Training
Fund's Construction Futures Centre today with apprentices and the
Housing Industry Association to announce an additional 150 places under the
group training organisation wage subsidy program. Most members would be aware
that group training organisations are a great initiative and make apprentices
accessible for small and medium-sized businesses. It is good for businesses
because they might be in a position to take an apprentice for two or maybe
three years, but maybe not commit to the whole four years. For apprentices, it
gives exposure to a range of different skills because they can work between
employers and the group training organisation is the host and, technically, the
employer of those apprentices.
In 2022, the government announced the
fulfilment of an election commitment to have 300 places for group training organisations for small and
medium-sized businesses in building and construction that were working
on government contracts. The government decided to expand that using the same 300
places so that those places would be available for residential and commercial
construction as well, because we could see that was where the pressure was.
Those 300 places were quickly taken up. We expanded them to another 150 places.
Within two months those 150 places were taken up. It is a very generous subsidy—about
$136 000 for a full apprenticeship period for the group training organisation.
It makes taking on an apprentice accessible for small and medium-sized
businesses.
As the Premier said, with this
announcement there will be another 150 places. By the time these places are
taken up, that will be 600 additional apprentices in construction-related
trades out there in the system. It is a great outcome. We were there today with
Noah, Ava and Marcus. Noah is a first-year plumbing apprentice and Ava and
Marcus are second-year carpentry apprentices. It was great to meet them, and it
is great to see the work the Construction Training Fund is doing. The futures
centre is a showcase of all things
construction. School students and prospective students go through there and get
a feel for construction in residential and commercial, and also in the
civil and resources sectors as well. We are starting to see the results of our
efforts in vocational training in a range of areas, but particularly around
construction. As at December last year, there were 10 852 apprentices and
trainees in building and construction in our state. It is remarkable. It is
going gangbusters!
I am really keen to hammer this
message home. Whether it is a young person who has recently finished school
looking to get a start in the workforce or a mature-aged person, there are many
training pathways to take. Opportunities are available if they want to work in
building and construction.
Madam Speaker, I do not know whether
I really got the response I was after to ''hammering'' the
message home! It is probably not a great joke when you have to repeat it!
There is lots happening with
vocational training and lots happening with building and construction. I am
very proud of the work this government is doing.
the Premier told us earlier, it was great to be at the Construction Training
Fund's Construction Futures Centre today with apprentices and the
Housing Industry Association to announce an additional 150 places under the
group training organisation wage subsidy program. Most members would be aware
that group training organisations are a great initiative and make apprentices
accessible for small and medium-sized businesses. It is good for businesses
because they might be in a position to take an apprentice for two or maybe
three years, but maybe not commit to the whole four years. For apprentices, it
gives exposure to a range of different skills because they can work between
employers and the group training organisation is the host and, technically, the
employer of those apprentices.
In 2022, the government announced the
fulfilment of an election commitment to have 300 places for group training organisations for small and
medium-sized businesses in building and construction that were working
on government contracts. The government decided to expand that using the same 300
places so that those places would be available for residential and commercial
construction as well, because we could see that was where the pressure was.
Those 300 places were quickly taken up. We expanded them to another 150 places.
Within two months those 150 places were taken up. It is a very generous subsidy—about
$136 000 for a full apprenticeship period for the group training organisation.
It makes taking on an apprentice accessible for small and medium-sized
businesses.
As the Premier said, with this
announcement there will be another 150 places. By the time these places are
taken up, that will be 600 additional apprentices in construction-related
trades out there in the system. It is a great outcome. We were there today with
Noah, Ava and Marcus. Noah is a first-year plumbing apprentice and Ava and
Marcus are second-year carpentry apprentices. It was great to meet them, and it
is great to see the work the Construction Training Fund is doing. The futures
centre is a showcase of all things
construction. School students and prospective students go through there and get
a feel for construction in residential and commercial, and also in the
civil and resources sectors as well. We are starting to see the results of our
efforts in vocational training in a range of areas, but particularly around
construction. As at December last year, there were 10 852 apprentices and
trainees in building and construction in our state. It is remarkable. It is
going gangbusters!
I am really keen to hammer this
message home. Whether it is a young person who has recently finished school
looking to get a start in the workforce or a mature-aged person, there are many
training pathways to take. Opportunities are available if they want to work in
building and construction.
Madam Speaker, I do not know whether
I really got the response I was after to ''hammering'' the
message home! It is probably not a great joke when you have to repeat it!
There is lots happening with
vocational training and lots happening with building and construction. I am
very proud of the work this government is doing.
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