Weld Australia is calling on the Federal Government to urgently adopt its Vocational Education and Training (VET) welding program that has already proven to be extremely successful, following yesterday's devastating Productivity Commission report showing Australia is on track to meet just four of the 19 Closing the Gap targets.
The report confirms that incarceration rates among Indigenous Australians are worsening, with over 2,300 Indigenous adults per 100,000 currently in prison—more than 10 times the rate of non-Indigenous Australians. Youth detention and suicide rates have also increased, with experts warning the country risks "losing another generation to the system" without urgent, coordinated reform.
According to Geoff Crittenden, CEO of Weld Australia, "The numbers released yesterday are heartbreaking, but they're not surprising. We've known for years that punitive, 'tough-on-crime' policies do not work for Indigenous communities. What does work is education, dignity, and opportunity, especially through access to employment. That's what our welding program delivers."
Weld Australia's prison-based welding training program—already operational across 10 Victorian correctional facilities—is a proven model for reform. Delivered in partnership with Federation University in Victoria, the program provides internationally recognised qualifications and employment pathways for participants, helping them reintegrate into society and significantly reduce their chances of reoffending.
"Prisoners who complete VET training are 78% more likely to stay out of prison five years post-release," said Crittenden. "This is the kind of measurable, transformative outcome we need to close the gap. Not another report, not more empty promises."
The program integrates augmented reality welding simulators with hands-on training and connects participants with employers and support services before release. It is already demonstrating exceptional outcomes in Victoria, yet no other state or territory has agreed to replicate or fund the model.
"Despite the evidence and our repeated lobbying efforts, no other government has taken this opportunity seriously," said Crittenden. "Yesterday's report should be a wake-up call. We need national investment in rehabilitation, not incarceration. The welding program should be rolled out nationally, starting with youth justice centres and regional communities."
With the Australian welding industry facing a shortage of at least 70,000 skilled workers by 2030, expanding the program also offers a double dividend: reducing recidivism and plugging critical workforce gaps.
"This isn't just about skills. It's about dignity through employment. It's about giving people, especially young Indigenous Australians, a future that doesn't start and end behind bars," said Crittenden.
Weld Australia is urging the Federal Government to work with state and territory governments to fund a national rollout of the program, particularly in jurisdictions where incarceration rates are increasing and youth justice systems are under scrutiny.
"It's time to stop managing disadvantage and start investing in solutions," said Crittenden. "If we're serious about Closing the Gap, let's fund programs that are proven to work."
About us:
Weld Australia represents the welding profession in Australia. Its members are made up of individual welding professionals and companies of all sizes. Weld Australia members are involved almost every facet of Australian industry and make a significant contribution to the nation's economy. The primary goal of Weld Australia is to ensure that the Australian welding industry remains locally and globally competitive, both now and into the future. Weld Australia is the Australian representative member of the International Institute of Welding (IIW).
