The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA today (July 26) officially opened its new Industry Training Hub in Armadale, with the facility expected to improve opportunities for young people in the area and meet workforce demands for local businesses.
The Armadale Training Hub is one of 10 hubs being trialled across Australia as part of a $50.6 million Federal Government program to improve opportunities for Year 11 and 12 students in regions with high youth unemployment.
CCIWA CEO Chris Rodwell said at the launch that the vital partnership with the Federal Government would reinforce the skills pipeline, boost opportunities for young Western Australians and strengthen the link between training and the demands of businesses in our economy.
“There are few things that can change a person’s life like the opportunity to get a job and pursue a career,” he said.
“This Industry Hub can play an important role in connecting young people with those opportunities, and to help them develop the skills that our economy needs.”
CCIWA’s June Business Confidence survey found nearly 80 per cent of businesses have a vacant job they are trying to fill.
The most in-demand roles include:
- plant and machinery operators;
- mechanics, fitters and riggers;
- electricians and carpenters;
- chefs; nurses; teachers; and
- aged care and disability workers.
“This is one reason we strongly back the message to young people that vocational education and training is a great and rewarding career path,” Rodwell said.
“Our vast membership wants to fully realise their growth potential during the recovery from COVID. To do that, they want and need young people and workers with the right skills to help them grow.”
When the hub was announced in May, Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business Minister Stuart Robert said young people faced longer periods of unemployment than other age groups, and in regional areas they were particularly at risk of falling into the trap of long-term welfare dependency.
“We want to get more young Western Australians in to jobs, whether it is through our $2.7 billion investment securing the next generation of Australian apprentices or our $1b JobTrainer fund or indeed through our Industry Training Hubs like this one in Armadale. It is all about assisting young Western Australians to build skills today and get into jobs tomorrow,” he said.
“Importantly, the training hub will help promote the many opportunities in the vocational education and training sector as a first-choice career option that may have been overlooked in the past.”
Each Training Hub is managed by a full-time career facilitator who will help create better links between schools and local industry.
City of Armadale Mayor Ruth Butterfield said the city welcomed the new Industry Training Hub, which would better equip Year 11 and 12 students for the future.
“The new inner-city hub will be like a one-stop-shop and by providing easy access along with the hands-on experience of a dedicated career facilitator, our young people will be encouraged to develop skills for occupations most relevant to the Armadale region,” Ms Butterfield said.
The hub is located at Shop 11, Armadale Central Shopping Centre 10 Orchard Avenue, Armadale, WA, 6112
For more information call (08) 9365 7539 or email [email protected]
