Page 4162 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 18 November 2015
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than just choice, informed choice. He highlighted that this was something that CIT is very good at providing and also recognised the importance of this choice being available to students in high schools and colleges throughout Canberra as they consider what their future holds for them.
I thank Mr Rattenbury for his acknowledgement of the importance of lifelong and accessible learning for all members of our community—younger people, older people, people looking to return to work. There was discussion also about the importance of a focus on literacy and numeracy for vulnerable and marginalised groups in our community and how important it is to have clear pathways through vocational education and training providers.
I also note the significant discussion around particularly CIT’s role in encouraging broadly and providing nation-leading courses in the renewable energy sector, which is really going to enable the ACT to build on the many, many layers of this sector; encouraging this sector to grow within the ACT; encouraging ACT companies to reach out across Australia and the world through our renewable energy targets, our renewable energy training; and the ability of the CIT to be able to provide this exceptional training for the first time in Australia.
There is also a growing movement in terms of sustainable housing, sustainable design. I note Mr Rattenbury’s comment that there is potential opportunity for CIT to provide more courses in energy efficient buildings and building design as well, which I think really is the way of the future.
I thank members for their support. I particularly acknowledge Minster Burch’s answers to my questions during question time on this important sector and really highlighting for us the need for reform in this sector. I thank everybody for their unanimous support of reform in this sector. It is not a sector that can stand still but one that needs to be nimble, that needs to respond to the changing needs of our economy, to grow in technology throughout the economy, throughout our schooling system, and the real advantages and opportunities that that provides for us.
On the VET sector, I spoke at a forum on the weekend with Stephen Kakulas and Peter Whiteford from ANU. One of the things they talked about in terms of ensuring that we have prosperity, particularly inclusive prosperity, across our community was the opportunities provided through education. Peter Whiteford, in particular, highlighted the importance of vocational education and training as something we must always be looking to reform and encourage, because it provides so many more options for our students and for our businesses to enable them to grow as well. I thank members for their support today.
Motion agreed to.
Children and young people—autism spectrum disorder
MR WALL (Brindabella) (4.21): I move:
That this Assembly:
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