EDUCATION and Training Minister Mark McGowan has unveiled plans for a new $2.55 million trade training centre at John Forrest Senior High School. To be known as the John Forrest Trade Training Centre, the facility is one of six to be built at Western Australian schools under the federal government’s $2.5 billion Trade Training Centres in Schools Program. “The centre will be fitted out with industry relevant equipment for these trades,” Mr McGowan said in a statement. “Students will have the opportunity to commence qualifications at the certificate III level in plumbing, and painting and decorating.” He said the trade training program complemented the major training sector reforms being undertaken by the state government. Major initiatives already introduced include changes to the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996 to modernise apprenticeships and traineeships, consolidation of the number of industry advisory bodies from 14 to 10, and the allocation of an additional $66 million to boost the number of apprentices and trainees in WA to 39,000.
