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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 04 Hansard (Thursday, 1 April 2004) . . Page.. 1536 ..

is still not strong enough. I believe that more needs to be done at the departmental/corporate levels to generate this two-way traffic—on the one hand youth who need to be encouraged, guided, career counselled and then taken up and, on the other hand, industries which have a lot of gaps to be plugged.

Why is there still any disconnect at all? Is there an adequate strategic planning process at the corporate/departmental level in order to identify local industry requirements? I think there is, but I do not know that it is as effective as it could be. Who is managing the junction point between industry and education to identify perceived needs five and 10 years out? I believe that more can be done by the department at the local level. For example, is the department looking at the success that we have seen at Copland College, which is the result of the initiative between a particular part of industry and Copland, and trying to take that model and mobilise it more broadly across the ACT education system?

Ms Gallagher: There is one in Tuggeranong now.

Mr PRATT: That is great. The minister is nodding her head; I am pleased to see that. We need to see more than just a corporate plan; we need to see the department engaging at the high school, college and CIT coalfaces looking for those sorts of creative opportunities. I am glad to hear that Tuggeranong is picking that up. Let us see if we can get all of our colleges doing that. I am glad to see that the minister has been moving on the career guidance program. This is clearly an area that still needs to be worked on at the year 9/10 level, looking to streamline kids who are going to be better suited to VET and perhaps guided through colleges on that course.

In conclusion, we know that industries have needs and that there are significant shortages. We believe that a stronger marriage is needed at the corporate and departmental level. The career guidance model needs to be up-gunned so we can find kids who have the skills, capabilities and potential to go down some of those pathways. The department needs to be a little more creative in tracking down and reinforcing the success stories, particularly at the college level, to ensure that we can strengthen that marriage between industries, schools and other training providers.

MR SPEAKER: The time for the discussion is concluded.

Postponement of order of the day

Motion (by Mrs Dunne) agreed to:

That order of the day No 1, Assembly business, be postponed until after order of the day No 2, Executive business.

(Quorum formed)

Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2004

Mr Stanhope, pursuant to notice, presented the bill and its explanatory statement.

Title read by Clerk.

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