A major boost for the skills and training sector will see a huge investment in tackling South Australia's skills shortages – with the regions set to benefit.
It will be supported by a stronger TAFE SA, as the Malinauskas Labor Government continues to rebuild TAFE SA from the cuts inflicted on it by the former Liberal Government.
The budget includes $10.2 million to introduce a new Regional Skills Development Fund – which will mean that TAFE SA will be able to offer more courses in regional and rural South Australia for the first time in many years.
Currently, regional areas need a minimum of 12 enrolled students to run a course, which means some courses can’t be offered due to insufficient numbers, or students having to travel hundreds of kilometers to attend a class.
The fund will allow for courses to run with a minimum of five enrolled students, meaning more students will have access to more courses across South Australia. The courses will target priority areas where we need to get skilled people for jobs.
The skills investment in the budget will also see $28 million in targeted training subsidy increases for not-for-profit and industry based training providers as well as a new $9 million skills fund to deliver contemporary training facilities and industry relevant equipment
The wide range of skills and training initiatives builds on the significant investments being made by the Malinauskas Labor Government to tackle skills shortages and improve completion rates in vocational training – including five brand new technical colleges including ones in Mt Gambier and Port Augusta increased funding to TAFE SA, and a previous $13.7 million immediate response to address South Australia's skills crisis.
