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The 2008-09 Budget delivers the Rudd Government’s commitment to deliver 450 000 new training places over four years. The Budget extends this commitment to invest $1.9 billion over 5 years to fund up to 630 000 new training places.
The Government says Skilling Australia for the Future is a policy designed to target skills shortages and lift productivity.
The 630,000 new places will include up to 85 000 apprenticeship opportunities and will be targeted to key groups with up to 238 000 places for those outside the workforce and up to 392 000 places for existing workers.
The Government began delivering on its commitment by creating the first 20,000 new training places for job seekers at a cost of $33.3 million during 2007-08.
The $1.9 billion program will deliver increased funding for Industry Skills Councils of $83.2 million over 5 years. The Industry Skills Councils will have a stronger role, to ensure industry needs are part of the training system.
The Rudd Government has allocated an additional $19.6 million over 5 years to create Skills Australia, a body which will advise the Government on skills gaps and needs to ensure investments are targeted to areas that need them most.
It recently fast-tracked the establishment of Skills Australia with the Skills Australia Bill 2008 which was introduced into the House of Representatives on 13 February 2008 and received Royal Assent on 20 March 2008.
The Skills Australia Act 2008 establishes the operational arrangements to support the independent body, including provisions relating to conflict of interest, arrangements for the appointment and service of members, remuneration, procedures about its conduct and arrangements for working groups to provide it with the capacity to investigate issues drawing on a wider range of stakeholders.
The Deputy Prime Minister announced the members of Skills Australia on 17 April 2008.
The body will be chaired by former IBM executive, Mr Philip Bullock and will be comprised of seven experts from a range of backgrounds including, economics, industry, academia and education and training.
Chair, Mr Philip Bullock is currently a Director of Healthscope Limited, a leading provider of hospitals and pathology services in Australia. Mr. Bullock has been an industry leader for many years and was the Chief Executive and Managing Director of IBM Australia and New Zealand.
The 6 other members of Skills Australia are:
- Professor Gerald Burke
- Ms Sharan Burrow
- Dr Michael Keating
- Ms Marie Persson
- Mrs Heather Ridout
- Mr Keith Spence
