Page 2643 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 21 September 2022
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apprenticeships for our public school students. Government committed $2.2 million for this program which is supporting up to 50 students to follow the path they have chosen. What is really special about the Head Start program is the personalised support that students get from the team, giving them the best possible chance of a transition from school into good secure jobs.
MS ORR: Minister, how does this program benefit industries that are facing skills shortages?
MS BERRY: I thank Ms Orr for the supplementary. There are eight employers across five industries who are participating in the pilot. These industries are hospitality, automotive trades, light automotive, construction/carpentry and light metal fabrication. One of the employers that I met during the launch told me that what they valued about the program was the opportunity for the Head Start team to match the student with the industry, so a perfect match in some ways. It makes for a great experience for the students and it benefits the employers because the students are more likely to stick with their employer. It gives them the chance to be welcomed into a new talent. It also gives the employers the chance to train students up and give them a chance to be the best they possibly can be.
DR PATERSON: Minister can you give me an example of how this program will make a difference to young people.
MS BERRY: Getting real life experience is one of the best ways to set students up for their careers. This program is a perfect launching pad for students to start their journey into the workforce. At the launch, I met the wonderful Charlie who has been part of the first group of students going through this program. I think it is fair to say that school didn’t quite work for Charlie and he didn’t love the traditional school setting. He told me that working in automotive trades was really interesting and he felt like he was learning so much more—that what he has learned at school makes more sense to him and he is getting real hands on experience.
Charlie also told me that the program gave him the chance to try out a range of different skills so he can figure out what his interests are. I am really proud of this election commitment by Labor, it is really making a difference for kids like Charlie and their families.
Alexander Maconochie Centre—detainee education and training programs
MRS KIKKERT: My question is to the Minister for Corrections. Minister, it was revealed during estimates that since early October 2021 there has been no formal and routine education provider at the AMC.
According to an answer to an estimates QON, as of 14 September only 12 detainees are engaged in distance tertiary education, and 67 have been or are enrolled in some ad hoc construction courses. This is a total of only 79 detainees out of more than 300.
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