CPSISC, the National Industry Skills Council responsible for the building and construction and property services industries, today welcomed Minister Evans’ first key announcement within the revised skills portfolio, to allocate $11 million of the overall workforce development funds to affirm training prospects for thousands of construction trades and property professionals going into the New Year.

CPSISC has worked closely with employers both large and small to co-contribute in strong numbers with the Government to fund much needed skills for occupations such as plumbers, carpenters, engineers and para-professionals to name a few.

CPSISC Chief Executive, Alan Ross, said today, “The announcement made today is well timed. This commitment to skills development looks beyond a potentially challenging 12 months across the sectors, to upskill construction and property services businesses to meet their future needs looking at skill shortfalls post 2012.

“Despite uncertainty in the economy, this collaborative with the Federal Government, Industry and the ISC provides much needed optimism going into the New Year. This program makes a structural investment in upskilling to provide capacity in occupations that are forecasted to be integral to meet midterm skills deficits,” he said.

For Sydney based construction employer, Owen Gardner of Gardner Construction, this announcement is a huge investment in his workforce development and sees the funding as a vital way of providing skills that he wants to retain in the long term.  Owen Gardner was impressed to see the funding announced this side of Christmas. “This funding goes a long way to support eight successful applicant employees who are keen as mustard to gain additional qualifications such as Certificate IV in estimating and site management that are vital to my business plan throughout 2012 and into the longer term,” he said.

Mr Ross said that “the message eventuating from Minister Evans’ announcement today is a significant commitment made to support skills development through the Workforce Development Fund for the construction and property sectors, which lays the platform for future Government, Industry and ISC collaboratives through the National Workforce Development Fund.”