Skills and training sector gets big boost in South Australian Budget

The Skills and Training sector will receive a generous injection of funding to combat a shortage of skilled workers, handed down in last week’s South Australian Budget 2023/24. 

 

“Investment in skills and training initiatives are vital to ensure we are growing South Australia economically and building on the opportunities ahead,” said SA Treasurer Stephen Mulligan. 

 

Driving this initiative is $28 million in targeted training subsidy increases for not-for-profit and industry-based training providers. This investment, the Government believes, will support these providers to deliver even better-quality training in a number of sectors and industries critical to the state’s future.

 

The budget also includes $10.2 million to introduce a new Regional Skills Development Fund – which will mean that TAFE SA will be able to offer more courses in regional and rural South Australia for the first time in many years. This funding directly responds to feedback from each of the Government’s Country Cabinet visits.

 

TAFE SA will also receive an extra $12.2 million in funding to reduce its required revenue targets, recognising developments within the skills system, including the introduction of Fee Free TAFE.

 

A new $9 million skills fund will deliver contemporary training facilities and sector and industry relevant equipment to ensure training better meets the needs of students, sector and industry. 

 

The investment will enable TAFE SA, not-for-profit and industry-based training providers to invest in new infrastructure, equipment and technology to support the delivery of training in areas of skill shortage and demand.

 

Group Training Organisations will also receive $4.2 million through the continuation of the Boost program. The program will focus on supporting mature age apprentices to take up trades in areas of skills shortages.

 

Tauondi College will be supported with a $5.6 million investment to ensure its ongoing role as a critical Aboriginal-controlled training provider in South Australia.

 

The budget will also support the expansion of the Master Builders Born to Build program, with $225,000 to promote a variety of career pathways and options within the building and construction industry, focusing on recruitment through football.

 

The budget also includes a funding provision for a new five-year National Skills Agreement, pending negotiations with the Commonwealth Government.

 

The wide range of skills and training initiatives builds on the significant investments being made by the South Australian Government to tackle skills shortages and improve completion rates in vocational training – including five brand new technical colleges, increased funding to TAFE SA and to restore courses in early childhood education and aged care, and a previous $13.7 million immediate response to address South Australia’s skills crisis.