Media release

From the Minister for Community Services

Friday, 20 July 2007

BUILDING A BETTER TRAINED HUMAN SERVICES WORKFORCE

Minister for Community Services Gavin Jennings today acknowledged nine Victorians for their outstanding work in training community services and health personnel or themselves undertaking training in this important field.

Announcing the winners of the Community Services and Health Industry Training Awards, Mr Jennings said training was the key to providing a skilled and flexible workforce.

“With an ageing population, this important workforce is expected to double over the next 10 years,” Mr Jennings said.

“Vocational education and training is essential in ensuring Victoria’s workforce can rise to this challenge.

“We need to invest in recruiting and training a workforce that can cope with this increase in demand and adapt to the changing way people are living and receiving treatment as they age.

“It’s also important to recognise the trainers who are helping develop this workforce.”

Mr Jennings said the Bracks Government had invested $241.4 million in Maintaining the Advantage: Skilled Victorians to see sector workers start earlier, learn longer, skill up and make training easier.

“Maintaining the Advantage sets out the direction for the state’s vocational education and training (VET) sector for the next four years,” Mr Jennings said.

“It also encourages people to train for community services and health qualifications.”

Mr Jennings said Victoria had joined other Australian states this year in endorsing the revised national Health Training Package.

“The Health Training Package is the VET qualifications framework for nationally recognised training in the health industry,” Mr Jennings said.

“It integrates 86 qualifications and assessment guidelines for VET-trained staff including Division 2 nurses, allied health assistants and other occupational group disciplines.”

Mr Jennings said the Bracks Government had allocated $11.6 million to create training positions for an additional 1500 nurses and 420 allied health staff.

“We are also supporting programs to help job seekers facing barriers such as age, location or disability find ongoing employment in areas experiencing skills and labour shortages,” he said.

The nine winners of the 2007 Community Services and Health Industry Training Board Awards are:

Employer Achievement in Creating a Learning Culture:

·  Donna Richards, of Yarrawonga (Open Category)

·  Kinder Haven, of Malvern (Small Business/Agency);

Innovation in Training and Assessment

·  Joanne Wilson, of St Kilda (Innovative Product);

·  Deborah Stockton, of Wodonga (Innovative Service Delivery) and

·  Tania Ryan, of Leongatha (Recognising Competency).

Student Achievement:

·  Yeon Leslie, of Somerton (Lifelong Learner),

·  Luke Mitchell, of Montmorency (Vocational Student),

·  Christine Bunton, of Bacchus Marsh (New Apprentice/Trainee) and

·  Amy Unwin, of Camperdown (VET in Schools Student).

Winners can be contacted through the Community Services & Health Industry Training Board on (03) 9347 0377.

Media contact: Stacy Hume 9651 5799 or 0403 989 186 www.vic.gov.au