TRADE Training Centres (TTCs) in Peel schools will be scrutinised in an independent review this year to ensure the skills they provide suit industry needs.
The Mandurah Regional Trades Skills Centre at Coodanup Community College, the Pinjarra Waroona Trade Training Centre and more than 200 others across the nation will be reviewed.
Canning MLA Don Randall said the industry had raised concerns about inconsistencies in the quality of training, qualifications and equipment between centres. However Senator Sue Lines said she would be interested to see the results of the review and where the concerns had come from, as she had heard many schools speak highly of the program.
“Alcoa have said big things about the centres and in Armadale their TTC produced a school-based Apprentice of the Year award winner,” she said.
“There are great apprentices coming out of these centres and without the reviewer’s feedback at this time, no judgements can be made.”
Information released by the Federal Department of Education said more than $1.4billion had been invested in the program since 2009 and as funding rounds had now ceased, the Government needed to ensure “the return from this expenditure is maximised”.
“The review of operational TTCs will assess the effective use of the TTC, training provided, particularly in terms of industry and employer engagement and whether training outcomes are meeting industry and employer needs,” the information stated.
“The review will also examine if the program is meeting its aim of addressing national skills shortages in traditional trades, emerging industries and eligible qualifications.”
TTCs operate on 20-year contracts and the review is set to ensure maximum value is delivered to taxpayers.
The independent review will be conducted by economist and former departmental secretary Patricia Scott and is expected to be presented to the Government later this year.
Some site visits to operational centres will also occur later this month and next month but would be coordinated in advance to minimise disruption for students.
Individuals involved with local Trade Training Centres can also have their say about improvements that could be made at education.gov.au/trade-training-centres-schools-program
