A new training hub in Armadale is giving young Western Australians opportunities, including in well-paying jobs and through connections.
The Armadale Industry Training Hub is one of 10 Training Hubs being trialled across Australia, as part of the Australian Government’s $50.6 million investment to improve opportunities for Year 11 and 12 students in regions with high youth unemployment.
Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business Stuart Robert said young people can face longer periods of unemployment than other age groups, and in regional areas they are particularly at risk of falling into the trap of long-term welfare dependency.
“We want to get more young Western Australians in to jobs, whether it is through our $2.7 billion investment securing the next generation of Australian apprentices or our $1 billion JobTrainer fund or indeed through our Industry Training Hubs like this one in Armadale,” he said.
“It is all about assisting young Western Australians to build skills today and get into jobs tomorrow.
“Importantly, the Training Hub will help promote the many opportunities in the vocational education and training sector as a first-choice career option that may have been overlooked in the past.”
A full-time Career Facilitator will manage the Training Hub and help create better links between schools and local industry.
Senator for Western Australia, Matt O’Sullivan, said the Career Facilitator will encourage students to focus on developing skills for occupations that are most relevant to where they live.
‘The Career Facilitator will engage with local employers who are having difficulty finding people with the right skills they need for their business or organisation, and in turn, advise senior high school students of these skill shortages,” he said.
“An Industry Training Hub, based here in Armadale, is an important measure to help us build a strong workforce that meets the industry needs of our region.”
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia has been awarded the contract for Armadale.
Five Training Hubs have already commenced in Burnie, Townsville, Maryborough, Port Pirie and Shepparton.
Additional Training Hubs will also be launched in Gosford, Grafton, Wanneroo, and Alice Springs.54
More details can be found at https://www.dese.gov.au/industry-training-hubs.
