Labor's National Trade Cadetships Programme
21/07/10
Julia Gillard’s National Trade Cadetships Programme announcement is policy on the run – it’s a thought bubble and not even close to concept stage.
The Rudd-Gillard Labor Government has failed to deliver adequate training or employment opportunities to young Australians and this latest announcement is further evidence of their inaction and incompetence in delivering programs.
The program is not due to start until some undefined date in 2012.
The programme is flawed as it relies on students attending a Trades Training Centre (TTC).
With the Rudd-Gillard Labor Government delivering only 13 operational centres in three years, the first one only opening in February 2010 Ms Gillard must be joking if she thinks her announcement today is going to achieve anything. Many students would miss out on a ‘cadetship’.
The current program is so under-funded schools time-share facilities sometimes travelling very long distances to even get to the centre.
Julia Gillard announced that only 22 of the TTCs will be operating by the beginning of the next school year. Labor promised 2,650 TTCs – one in each secondary school.
If Labor was serious about trades training, they would firstly attempt to fully deliver on their commitment to roll out 2650 Trades Training Centre across the country.
This is a duplication of existing TAFE and other Vocational options already available to students.
Labor has not stated where the money ($3.1 million committed) will come from – it was only three days ago that the Gillard stated that any measures announced will be offset by savings.
Training initiatives such as Trades Training Centres have not delivered what was promised.
Prior to the Rudd/Gillard Government closing them all down, 24 Coalition created Australian Technical Colleges (ATCs) were providing high quality technical education to more than 3,000 students across Australia. We had committed to a network of 100 ATCs around Australia before the last election.
ATCs were stand alone centres of excellence in technical education and training established in partnership with business and local communities around local needs.