85. Better plan for and invest in future skills and training by:
- involving the Department of Training and Workforce Development, TAFEs and relevant private training organisations when strategies or plans are developed for new or existing industry sectors, to ensure future curriculum is planned in a timely manner
- establishing a dedicated and ongoing funding program for TAFE training equipment and software and facilitating industry co-contributions where appropriate
- further encouraging apprenticeships and traineeships on public infrastructure projects by expanding the use of group training organisations, including the use of incentives and promoting the use of group training organisations
- updating the Strategic Asset Management Framework’s Strategic Asset Plan and Business Case guidelines to require projects and programs with a capital cost of $100 million or more to consider the availability of, and/or need for, skills and training.
The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 85 (a) is fully supported; (b-d) is partially supported. For further information please refer to the response document.
Actions:
85.133 Consider extending the Group Training Wage Subsidy Program
85.158 Map required skills to support the defence and battery industries
2/2 actions complete
85.133 Complete
In March 2024, the Premier and Minister for Training and Workforce Development announced an additional 150 program places for the 2024-25 financial year, to be made available immediately. As at 30 June 2024, 76 of these additional program places have been allocated to eligible GTOs.
85.157 Complete
Further work has been completed to inform the preparation of a battery industry workforce development strategy and implementation plan, for the consideration of Government. There has been continued progress of defence industry training initiatives including the Women in Defence Industry Scholarship Program; Defence Industry Veterans Employment Scheme; Defence Industry Existing Worker Traineeship Incentive Program; Reskilling and Upskilling Grants; Defence Industry Internship and Graduate Scholarship Program; and establishment of the Other Force website in April 2024 showcasing defence careers.