Page 4701 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 10 November 2009
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further initiatives, including $1.5 million to support Australian school-based apprentices, $1.4 million to assist with tuition fees in areas of skills shortage by increasing the availability of scholarships at the CIT, and in developing initiatives such as the out-of-trade register.
Building on these foundations and partnerships established with education and training stakeholders, the youth commitment is a vital part of the education reforms being discussed here today. These efforts collectively will mean that all young Canberrans will complete year 10 and will study, train or work after year 10 in a way that suits their needs, their abilities and plans for the future.
Education will become more flexible; it will centre on students’ choices. If they choose to spend two days on a building site, a day at training and a day at school, then this government will be there to support them. We are raising expectations and raising the level of accountability to ensure that no young person will miss out.
The ACT government is determined to introduce a youth commitment to ensure that no young person is left behind in education, training or employment. The youth commitment and the improved support processes will ensure that transitions for young people are seamless and a positive experience, ensuring that they remain engaged in the community.
While the implementation of this initiative may be complex, the message that this youth commitment gives to the young people remains simple, and it is that you matter. Furthermore, the legislative changes that underpin the youth commitment will meet the ACT’s national obligations under the multi-jurisdiction youth compact and the youth attainment and transitional national partnership, and I am looking forward to working with my colleague the minister for education, Mr Andrew Barr, on this commitment and other youth programs. I commend this bill to the Assembly.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Planning, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation and Minister for Gaming and Racing) (11.16), in reply: I thank members for their contributions to the debate and for their support of the legislation, albeit again, for some, seemingly through gritted teeth.
This legislation is important because it redefines education and it redefines our views around providing a broader and more flexible system. It is about helping young people to find their passion. It is about saying there are no more excuses; that it is time for everyone to stand up and to take responsibility, and it is about establishing high expectations to transform universal opportunity into universal outcomes.
Through this legislation, we are redefining education in the territory. After extensive community consultation, this legislation introduces a mandatory participation age of 17 and aims to increase young people’s engagement in education and training. This reform will enhance young people’s earning potential, reduce the risk of unemployment and build on this territory’s impressive record of excellence in educational achievement.
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