Page 167 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MS BURCH: I am. I am just offering to clarify things if I used the words “all spoke on the fringe”. If you did not speak on the Fringe Festival, I am quite happy to correct that, withdraw or whatever is the most appropriate.
MADAM SPEAKER: Great.
MS BURCH: This is a very important topic. This is employment and jobs here in the ACT. I am not aware of any family or individual in the ACT that does not think about jobs and does not want to ensure that there is jobs growth and employment opportunities in this city. But the point remains that yesterday we had two hours in this place with a good lot of the Canberra Liberals obsessed with the Fringe Festival and the creative director of that, yet they are not prepared to stand and make comment about the importance of job opportunities here in the ACT. I think that is telling in more ways than one.
Having a job is a central part of a person’s identity. It provides not only means to support oneself but also a purpose and confidence. This is why, as minister, I am committed to ensuring that every young Canberran can get access to the education and training that they need to get meaningful employment.
One way the government can support strong employment growth is by having a high-performance education system, which is what this government has done since 2001 and what we will continue to do. Ensuring the successful completion of a year 12 certificate or its equivalent is important for the successful transition of young people from school to employment and further education and training. A successful move from school to work or to further study is important for full-time participation in the workforce in later years. We also know that ensuring that students leave school with strong literacy and numeracy skills is essential.
It is pleasing, therefore, to note that the proportion of ACT 15 to 74-year-olds with literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills at level 3 or above is slightly higher than the general Australian population. In 2013 the average scores in NAPLAN testing for ACT students were the highest or equal highest in the nation across all of the 20 areas tested. The ACT continues to excel in reading and has been the highest performing jurisdiction in Australia since 2008. This has meant that almost all young Canberrans are well positioned to transition from school to work.
ACT youth have thrived in recent years, achieving exceptional outcomes in education and employment. Youth aged between 20 and 24 years are more likely than youth in the rest of the nation to have a year 12 certificate or equivalent or at least a cert II. The ACT is the only jurisdiction to exceed the COAG target of a national attainment rate of 90 per cent for 20 to 24-year-olds with a year 12 certificate or equivalent or a certificate II.
Full-time participation in education or work after leaving school is an important step in establishing a young person’s employment path through the working years. A 17 to 24-year-old in the ACT is more likely to be in full-time employment, full-time education or training or a mixture of part-time employment and part-time education
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video