Funding to boost skills in Tasmania
The aged care industry in Tasmania is set to benefit from some of the $1.3 million Career Start Program announced by Tasmania’s Minister for State Growth, Mathew Groom.
“Under the 2017 Career Start program 374 more Tasmanian jobseekers and workers will receive training opportunities in a range of growth industries including hospitality, aged care, transport and logistics, aquaculture and early childhood education,” Mr Groom says.
“This includes 130 training places in aged care to ensure local care providers like the Salvation Army’s Barrington Lodge Aged Care in New Town can continue to offer their residents the highest standard of service with skilled and professional staff.
Ms Lee Veitch, manager of workforce and innovation of Aged and Community Services Tasmania says the funding would facilitate the pre-employed entering into the market to obtain their Cert III Individual Support. “It is a welcome move; Tasmania needs 3000 new support workers by 2020,” she says. “This is without replacing people retiring.”
She is says it is a welcome move and highlights there are very strong partnerships with organisations and industry to ensure the training delivered is training needed.
Sue Leitch CEO Council of the Ageing (COTA) Tasmania says the news was great for the sector. “We have been recommending more investment for training opportunities for some time, so we welcome this investment,” she says.
Mr Groom says the government was supporting the Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS) to develop a cohesive workforce development plan to maintain and expand the skill base of our vital community services sector.
“This funding is just part of our ongoing commitment to help deliver training opportunities for young Tasmanians and making sure our employers have the skilled workers they need to grow their business and increase productivity,” he says.
Tasmania is the fastest ageing state in Australia, and Ms Veitch says the ageing industry in Tasmania is recognised as a growth industry and it’s good the government supports it.
Comments