❓ Opposition questions the government's decision to axe the First Click and Second Click programs, focusing on the rationale, communication, and potential impact on community organisations. The Minister defends the decision as a rationalisation of programs to ensure best outcomes, with a reassessment planned in 12 months.
AnsweredQoN 282Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FIRST CLICK AND SECOND CLICK PROGRAMS
282. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH to the Minister for Training and
Workforce Development:
I refer to the
axing of the First Click and Second Click programs.
(1) Who made the
decision to axe the First Click and Second Click programs, and when was the
decision made?
(2) How were the
49 providers of this program advised of the axing?
(3) Does the
minister support the Premier's claim that funding was axed because the
program is no longer needed; and, if not, why not?
(4) Is the
minister aware that the axing of this program means that some community
organisations may now have to close, and what will he do about that?
282. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH to the Minister for Training and
Workforce Development:
I refer to the
axing of the First Click and Second Click programs.
(1) Who made the
decision to axe the First Click and Second Click programs, and when was the
decision made?
(2) How were the
49 providers of this program advised of the axing?
(3) Does the
minister support the Premier's claim that funding was axed because the
program is no longer needed; and, if not, why not?
(4) Is the
minister aware that the axing of this program means that some community
organisations may now have to close, and what will he do about that?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for the question.
(1)–(4)
As I said when I answered the question on Thursday, the First Click and Second
Click programs have merit and provided some very good outcomes for some people
in the community who are marginalised. The Department of Training and Workforce
Development has to continually rationalise the programs in its portfolio, and
that is exactly what we do on a constant basis. We have to ascertain whether
the program is providing the best outcomes for the money that is being
provided. The department is constantly assessing and appraising programs and it
provides recommendations to me. Ultimately, of course, those recommendations
come to me and I make a final decision. The providers that were delivering
those programs were notified; I cannot give the exact date without notice, but
I can provide that information to the member at some other stage if she likes.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : So the department told you it wasn't
a valuable program and wasn't achieving its objectives.
Hon PETER COLLIER : No, not at all. That is not what I have
said. I want the member to listen to what I am saying. That is not what I said.
We have to ask whether it is the best way for us to provide opportunities and
resources for the community. We have provided record amounts of money for
training since I have been minister, and we provided an additional $99 million
in the current budget —
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister answer the
question!
Hon PETER COLLIER : Of that, $38 million was because the
federal government pulled that amount out. The simple fact of the matter is
that we have provided additional money. One of the priority areas of Skilling
WA is to ensure that we assist those who are marginalised, particularly
Aboriginal people. Our record in providing access for Aboriginal people, a
number of whom used First Click and Second Click, is second to none. We have
provided an enormous number of avenues for Aboriginal people to come into
training and have ensured that we have provided sound mentoring systems and
structures to transition people from training into the workplace. Other
programs are being used at the moment to ensure that people who are
marginalised are being catered for. As I stated on Thursday, this is not the
end of these programs; we have rationalised the programs and will continue to
rationalise them within the department to ensure that they are providing the
most positive outcomes. We will reassess the situation in 12 months and
determine whether we have been able to open doors for the particular groups we
were providing for in the First Click and Second Click programs. If we find
that they have not been catered for and that, in fact, First Click and Second
Click had provided a service that could not be provided through other programs,
the programs will be reinstated. At the moment they are in suspension, and we
will reassess them after a 12-month period.
honourable member for the question.
(1)–(4)
As I said when I answered the question on Thursday, the First Click and Second
Click programs have merit and provided some very good outcomes for some people
in the community who are marginalised. The Department of Training and Workforce
Development has to continually rationalise the programs in its portfolio, and
that is exactly what we do on a constant basis. We have to ascertain whether
the program is providing the best outcomes for the money that is being
provided. The department is constantly assessing and appraising programs and it
provides recommendations to me. Ultimately, of course, those recommendations
come to me and I make a final decision. The providers that were delivering
those programs were notified; I cannot give the exact date without notice, but
I can provide that information to the member at some other stage if she likes.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : So the department told you it wasn't
a valuable program and wasn't achieving its objectives.
Hon PETER COLLIER : No, not at all. That is not what I have
said. I want the member to listen to what I am saying. That is not what I said.
We have to ask whether it is the best way for us to provide opportunities and
resources for the community. We have provided record amounts of money for
training since I have been minister, and we provided an additional $99 million
in the current budget —
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister answer the
question!
Hon PETER COLLIER : Of that, $38 million was because the
federal government pulled that amount out. The simple fact of the matter is
that we have provided additional money. One of the priority areas of Skilling
WA is to ensure that we assist those who are marginalised, particularly
Aboriginal people. Our record in providing access for Aboriginal people, a
number of whom used First Click and Second Click, is second to none. We have
provided an enormous number of avenues for Aboriginal people to come into
training and have ensured that we have provided sound mentoring systems and
structures to transition people from training into the workplace. Other
programs are being used at the moment to ensure that people who are
marginalised are being catered for. As I stated on Thursday, this is not the
end of these programs; we have rationalised the programs and will continue to
rationalise them within the department to ensure that they are providing the
most positive outcomes. We will reassess the situation in 12 months and
determine whether we have been able to open doors for the particular groups we
were providing for in the First Click and Second Click programs. If we find
that they have not been catered for and that, in fact, First Click and Second
Click had provided a service that could not be provided through other programs,
the programs will be reinstated. At the moment they are in suspension, and we
will reassess them after a 12-month period.
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