The state government will take over funding of the Australian Technical College in the Pilbara from the federal government, which will not renew an act covering the operation of the college.
The announcement is below:
Pilbara's Australian Technical College (ATC) has been saved by the Western Australian State Government from looming closure at the end of the year.
Training Minister Peter Collier today announced the State Government would assume responsibility for the operations of the college to allow it to remain open.
"Without this action, students would not have been able to complete their studies and others could not have enrolled for 2010," Mr Collier said.
"The Government has made this decision in the interests of the local community and industry.
"This situation has occurred because the Federal Government Act covering the operation of the Pilbara ATC will cease at the end of the year, which means the college could not receive more funding.
"We have a strong interest in the ongoing operations of the Pilbara ATC and the State Government encourages training and education models which have positive results for Aboriginal people.
"The college's operation will be reviewed in the broader context of providing sustainable training and employment opportunities for the Pilbara's Aboriginal people."
The college caters for Year 11 or Year 12 students who want to begin a trade apprenticeship while completing their Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) at the Pilbara TAFE's Pundulmurra Campus.
Mr Collier said the Government wanted to ensure all Western Australians had access to first-class training opportunities wherever they lived.
