Page 3024 - Week 08 - Thursday, 15 August 2019
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The ACT government also works collaboratively with our local universities, such as the University of Canberra, the Australian National University and UNSW Canberra to actively promote our city as a great place to study and live, through the implementation of the international engagement strategy, which is focusing on strengthening our key markets, particularly China, but there has also been a focus in recent times on increasing student attraction from emerging markets like India and Indonesia.
With regard to vocational education and training, strong engagement with employers is a key strategy in driving increased engagement with vocational education and training in the territory. In this budget the government has committed funding across three years to establish a workforce skills and development officer position within the economic development division of CMTEDD.
Supporting skills development will ensure that the ACT is well positioned to build our knowledge capital and respond to emerging industry needs. The new position will support increased Australian apprenticeship commencements through matching apprentices and trainees with suitable employment opportunities.
To support industry projects that help increase Australian apprenticeship commencements in the ACT, the government has committed in this budget a further $500,000 per annum to establish an ongoing future skills for future jobs grants program. The program will enable market diversification and increase the number of commencements across pre-apprenticeships, pre-traineeships, Australian apprenticeships, higher apprenticeships, and other employment-related training in the ACT. It is anticipated that both initiatives will attract matched contributions from the commonwealth through our national partnership on skilling Australians.
Training is also a key aspect of social connectedness and social inclusion. I was recently very pleased to announce the recipients of the second round of the adult community education grants. These grants support projects that address youth unemployment, reduce recidivism rates in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detainees, better support the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse people living with disability, and improve the economic participation and social inclusion of refugees and migrants. The government recognises that access to vocational education and training is important, not only for economic wellbeing but for our social wellbeing as well.
VET plays a key role in meeting the skills needs of Australian and ACT businesses and citizens. It supports the development of a skilled and capable workforce. It enables growth in key economic sectors and contributes to a more inclusive society where people are equipped to meet their needs and aspirations and participate fully in our economy, our community and our democracy.
In this landscape the ACT government recognises the important role that the Canberra Institute of Technology has in delivering the skills needed by our evolving workforce and our changing economy. At the last election we committed to providing a minimum of 70 per cent of total ACT government funding for VET directly to CIT, to continue to support its critical function as the premier VET provider in the territory.
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