❓ Job creation—Fee-free TAFE courses 496. Ms Emily Hamilton to the Minister for Skills and TAFE: I refer to the Cook Labor government's commitment to diversifying Western Australia's economy to ensure i
AnsweredQoN 496Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Job creation—Fee-free TAFE courses
496. Ms Emily Hamilton to
the Minister for Skills and TAFE:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to diversifying Western Australia's economy to
ensure it remains the strongest in the nation.
Can the minister
update the house on the government's record investment in TAFE and can the minister
advise how fee-free and low-fee TAFE courses are supporting Western Australians
to gain quality jobs in growing industries?
496. Ms Emily Hamilton to
the Minister for Skills and TAFE:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to diversifying Western Australia's economy to
ensure it remains the strongest in the nation.
Can the minister
update the house on the government's record investment in TAFE and can the minister
advise how fee-free and low-fee TAFE courses are supporting Western Australians
to gain quality jobs in growing industries?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for Joondalup for her question and her ongoing commitment to TAFE and training
in Western Australia. Yesterday, as the Premier has outlined, at the North
Metropolitan TAFE campus in East Perth, we launched the TAFE campaign, focused
on jobs, health and housing. Free and low-fee TAFE is the enabler for all those
things and is providing a pipeline of skilled workforce and opportunities for
Western Australians.
The "You Can
Make It Here" campaign is encouraging Western Australians to skill,
upskill and re-skill to support our growing and diversifying economy. TAFE is
key to the government's vision of a clean energy transition and advanced
manufacturing. This government is making record investments in TAFE and skills
training to ensure that it is more affordable and accessible. It is critical to
our continued economic success.
Training in a
technical trade is critical to most industries in Western Australia,
particularly advanced manufacturing capabilities and our clean energy
transition, which is going to underpin our economy. There are two areas of
focus for this government in which we have cut fees to support the workforce in
those areas. The cert IV in laboratory techniques has been reduced by over
$3,200; the cert III for electricians has been reduced by over $1,600; and the
cert III in civil construction has been reduced by over $2,300 and will be
fee-free from next year. We are training the next generation of electricians,
plant operators and lab technicians who will build and install our new energy
system from large-scale solar and wind projects to renewable hydrogen and
battery storage, paving the way for well-paid jobs and good careers across
Western Australia.
In advanced
manufacturing, we are making more things here such as buses, trains and ferries
to support public transport and the expansion of our public transport network.
We are making wind turbines and high-tech batteries to support our energy
transition and shipbuilding through AUKUS right here in Western Australia. We
are doing that by slashing fees for cert IIIs. Engineering, mechanical and
fabrication trades have been cut by $1,400; marine craft construction by $1,400
and process manufacturing by $1,800. A cert IV in engineering previously cost
$3,800; it is now fee-free for people who want to engage.
It is genuinely life-changing
for Western Australians. I want to talk about Jamal Issah, who is a first-year
fabrication apprentice with Austal. He loves working with welding tools
alongside other young people as he is starting out in the industry. He did a
bit of work experience at school and it sparked his interest—no pun
intended—in a fabrication career. Further work experience at Austal
enabled him to secure an apprenticeship. As a young person living with a
disability, TAFE provides wraparound services and supports to assist Jamal to
successfully complete his studies. He loves training at TAFE as it provides him
with exposure to different work areas and compares different methods and
processes to build his knowledge. High-quality pathways in advanced
manufacturing and clean energy are made possible in Western Australia and this
government is immensely proud of our TAFE and training sector.
for Joondalup for her question and her ongoing commitment to TAFE and training
in Western Australia. Yesterday, as the Premier has outlined, at the North
Metropolitan TAFE campus in East Perth, we launched the TAFE campaign, focused
on jobs, health and housing. Free and low-fee TAFE is the enabler for all those
things and is providing a pipeline of skilled workforce and opportunities for
Western Australians.
The "You Can
Make It Here" campaign is encouraging Western Australians to skill,
upskill and re-skill to support our growing and diversifying economy. TAFE is
key to the government's vision of a clean energy transition and advanced
manufacturing. This government is making record investments in TAFE and skills
training to ensure that it is more affordable and accessible. It is critical to
our continued economic success.
Training in a
technical trade is critical to most industries in Western Australia,
particularly advanced manufacturing capabilities and our clean energy
transition, which is going to underpin our economy. There are two areas of
focus for this government in which we have cut fees to support the workforce in
those areas. The cert IV in laboratory techniques has been reduced by over
$3,200; the cert III for electricians has been reduced by over $1,600; and the
cert III in civil construction has been reduced by over $2,300 and will be
fee-free from next year. We are training the next generation of electricians,
plant operators and lab technicians who will build and install our new energy
system from large-scale solar and wind projects to renewable hydrogen and
battery storage, paving the way for well-paid jobs and good careers across
Western Australia.
In advanced
manufacturing, we are making more things here such as buses, trains and ferries
to support public transport and the expansion of our public transport network.
We are making wind turbines and high-tech batteries to support our energy
transition and shipbuilding through AUKUS right here in Western Australia. We
are doing that by slashing fees for cert IIIs. Engineering, mechanical and
fabrication trades have been cut by $1,400; marine craft construction by $1,400
and process manufacturing by $1,800. A cert IV in engineering previously cost
$3,800; it is now fee-free for people who want to engage.
It is genuinely life-changing
for Western Australians. I want to talk about Jamal Issah, who is a first-year
fabrication apprentice with Austal. He loves working with welding tools
alongside other young people as he is starting out in the industry. He did a
bit of work experience at school and it sparked his interest—no pun
intended—in a fabrication career. Further work experience at Austal
enabled him to secure an apprenticeship. As a young person living with a
disability, TAFE provides wraparound services and supports to assist Jamal to
successfully complete his studies. He loves training at TAFE as it provides him
with exposure to different work areas and compares different methods and
processes to build his knowledge. High-quality pathways in advanced
manufacturing and clean energy are made possible in Western Australia and this
government is immensely proud of our TAFE and training sector.
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