WA leads nation in training apprentices

Training Minister Ljiljana Ravlich has introduced several training initiatives to meet a target of 30,000 apprentices and trainees by 2009.

And according to figures produced by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research for the December 2004 quarter, the initiatives are working, with WA leading the nation in skilling apprentices in traditional trades.

The figures showed WA had 36 per cent of apprentices in traditional trades compared to the national figure of 23 per cent.

Ms Ravlich said it proved work was being done to alleviate the state’s skill shortage.

However, opposition training spokesperson Barry House was not convinced. He said if the State Government was doing enough to help combat the skills shortage, MBA WA wouldn’t have come out with its own training program.

“They should be supporting the MBA and its initiative rather than criticising it,” he said.

“The State Government has to support more flexibility and work together with industry to solve the problem.

“They are tied by their rigid union affiliations and they have to break the shackles and work co-operatively with industry.”

Some of the training initiatives introduced by the State Government include the school-based apprenticeship link; school-based traineeships; overseas qualification unit; a mentoring program and a fast-track program, which offers 1000 mature-aged people apprenticeships.