Central Regional TAFE
Mrs Magenta Marshall, Chair.
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson, Minister for Skills and TAFE.
Ms Jodie Wallace, Director General.
Ms Elaine Paterson, Executive Director, Service Resource Management.
Mr Graham Thompson, Executive Director, Corporate.
Ms Joanne Payne, Managing Director, Central Regional TAFE.
Ms Michelle Hoad, Managing Director, North Metropolitan TAFE.
Mr Blair Marsh, Managing Director, South Regional TAFE.
Ms Rachel Trotter, Director, Finance Services.
Mr Cameron Barnes, Chief of Staff, Minister for Skills and TAFE.
(The witnesses were introduced.)
The Chair: I give the call to the member for Mid-West.
Mr Shane Love: We are talking here about the line item "Central Regional TAFE" on page 389 under the heading "TAFE Colleges". I understand that Central Regional TAFE has taken on responsibility—I have it written down here—for the theory component of the mandatory firearms training that is required under the new legislation. What investment has been made to enable that and how much will that cost?
(9:40 am)
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: There is a direct resourcing arrangement between the Western Australia Police Force and Central Regional TAFE. They are in the development stage of the online module component of the training.
Mr Shane Love: What is the expected operational cost for Central Regional TAFE for that service?
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: The commercial resourcing arrangement between WAPOL and Central TAFE and the resourcing allocation from WAPOL would need to be requested from WAPOL.
Mr Shane Love: Well, it is an arrangement between the two organisations, so one has to receive the money and the other pays it. How much will Central TAFE receive for that service?
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: Discussions are still in progress on the exact amount.
Mr Shane Love: I have a different question, if I can. In terms of the understanding for the planning for Central Regional TAFE and its structure, with many different campuses in regional areas, how does TAFE determine the industry demand for each of the major trade training services that it provides in each of those regional areas and seek to address them individually?
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: The resource allocation is demand driven and based on the strong relationships with industry and the demands of industry in any particular region.
Mr Shane Love: Given that industry has reported to me in various communities in the Mid West area that there are insufficient courses in many of those trades, how does industry communicate that to the TAFE?
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: I am very happy to engage with industry as the minister. If the member has particular industries that are concerned that there are not adequate resources, in particular in regional and industry areas, I am more than happy to chat to them and find out what they need. We are also undertaking significant workforce development and planning through the Department of Training and Workforce Development to understand more broadly. Industry has an ongoing relationship with TAFEs and they should engage directly with them around what kind of demand and support they need, but as the minister, I am more than happy to meet with representatives of those industries.
Mr Yaz Mubarakai: Can the minister provide us with what her government is doing to support Western Australian people in training and how that is addressing the industry priority skills sector?
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: Thanks for the question, member. There is a range of initiatives that we are supporting to lift skills and certainly the take-up of particularly apprentices and trainees. They are a really good way of combining training and work with study and to come out qualified and industry ready. The WA Jobs and Skills Employer Incentive provides up to $8,500 to employers to help with the costs of employing apprentices and trainees. The Defence Industry Existing Worker Incentive provides up to $6,375 for approved defence employers who employ existing worker trainees in one of the three qualifications. Fee-free TAFE includes 37 apprenticeship and traineeship qualifications in priority industry areas and seven pre-apprenticeship courses in housing and construction. The Lower Fees, Local Skills initiative covers 117 apprenticeship and trainee qualifications, and the fees for those are reduced by up to 72%. There is the expansion of the group training organisation wage subsidy from 775 to 1,000 places. Low-fee existing worker traineeships are also available in industries with critical skills shortages. We continue to support our GTOs to support people from priority groups and cohorts in our community to commence an apprenticeship or traineeship.
The Chair: Thank you. That completes the examination of Central Regional TAFE.
