The Malinauskas Labor Government has tasked the Education Department with immediately getting on with the job of delivering three additional technical colleges – ensuring a day isn't wasted in making sure every South Australian can grasp the opportunities before us.
The Department will begin work today to undertake consultation with employers, community members, local councils and other stakeholders to determine the employment streams that will be offered at each of the technical colleges.
A key election commitment of the Malinauskas Labor Government was to build three additional technical colleges – in Murray Bridge, Gawler and Marden – and that work starts now.
Employer partners of the new technical colleges will also start being secured – who will guarantee jobs for graduates of the technical colleges.
It's been a busy four years, and the re-elected Malinauskas Labor Government has a large agenda for this next term of government focusing on growing the economy and building the skills of South Australians to meet future needs.
With AUKUS, major infrastructure projects, and booming renewable energy investment, the opportunities for secure, well-paid jobs are greater than ever before.
And we are determined to ensure all South Australians, no matter where they live, can share in those opportunities and the improved living standards they bring.
That's why we took a comprehensive plan to this State Election – to ensure we are ready to grasp the opportunities for our State. These included:
- Bold new initiatives to maximise housing supply and increase access to affordable homes for all South Australians including a $1 Billion Fast-Track Fund, Stamp Duty relief for downsizing seniors, 2000 new Rent-to-Own homes and expanding HomeStart to make it easier for first-home buyers.
- $27 million to support more than 1,000 new defence university, trade and upskilling opportunities for more South Australians to be part of delivering AUKUS.
- $29 million to create over 1,000 pathways into the construction industry through university scholarships, apprenticeships and industry partnerships so we can build more homes for South Australians.
- Delivering a new TAFE Trades Workshop in Mount Barker so we can build the workforce of trades people we need to construct thousands of new homes each year.
These initiatives complement the major technical college education election commitment which will see South Australian families accessing a technical college in their local area, providing students hands-on experience and job-ready skills.
And that work starts today – with employers and other stakeholders participating in the process to determine what skills need to be taught in each of the three new technical colleges.
All three colleges will offer specialised programs, ensuring students complete their SACE while undertaking vocational education and training (VET).
Our technical colleges are nation-leading, linking secondary school students and industries to more effectively ensure students are 'employment ready', giving them hands-on experiences, designing the facilities to reflect workplaces and ensuring the training meets industry needs.
The three colleges will have distinct local industry needs and demands and the success of the colleges will be determined by this preliminary work undertaken.
The new technical colleges are a $150 million commitment to build the skills workforce across the state. They will join the five other technical colleges already built in Findon, Modbury Heights, Tonsley, Port Augusta and the Limestone Coast.
As put by Peter Malinauskas
We have an ambitious agenda for this term of government, and I won't waste a single day.
It's been the privilege of my life to serve the people of South Australia as their Premier and I will not take the task they have entrusted me with for granted.
Technical colleges can change people's lives. I've seen it firsthand – but they also play a huge part in building the skills sector for the ambitious projects we have in South Australia – AUKUS, the construction of thousands of homes.
Today the work starts to determine the employment streams at each technical college, secure industry partners to guarantee jobs, and get on with providing more opportunities to more South Australians.
As put by Blair Boyer
By investing in education, training and skills, the Malinauskas Labor Government is lifting living standards and ensuring every young South Australian has access to a quality education and a clear path to a decent job.
Not every student needs to go to university to secure a good job, nor should they.
Technical Colleges are an essential component in addressing South Australia's skills needs and seizing our state's economic opportunities.
That is why the Malinauskas Labor Government will build an additional three technical tolleges, strengthening our commitment to addressing skills shortages and not wasting any opportunity to hit the ground running.
