Corporate partners for change

Hansard & Papers » Legislative Assembly » 12 November 2008 » Full Day Hansard Transcript » Item 45 of 48 »
Corporate Partners for Change
About this Item
Speakers - Torbay Mr Richard
Business - Private Members Statements, PRIV
CORPORATE PARTNERS FOR CHANGE
Page: 11317

Mr RICHARD TORBAY (Northern Tablelands—Speaker) [6.36 p.m.]: Recently I visited Inverell to present certificates to a group of long-term unemployed people who have found jobs through a highly entrepreneurial scheme involving the State Government. It was the first time the Corporate Partners for Change Scheme had been used in regional New South Wales. By any judgement, the first trial at Inverell must be considered a success. Briefly, the scheme entails in the first instance a direct approach to specific business or industry leaders to discuss their labour skill shortages. The local abattoir at Inverell, Bindaree Beef, was approached.

The company was short of work-ready employees and, as a result of the discussions, the company became involved in putting together a special training program to meet its needs. Local job network providers, Best Employment and Jobs Australia, identified 12 long-term unemployed people to undertake the course with the prospect of a job when they completed it. At the ceremony I attended it was announced that 11 of the original 12 participants completed the six-week course and would be starting work at the abattoir immediately. The abattoir is happy because these employees are all work ready. The participants are happy because they have found work that meets their skills and because they can enter the workplace with training that prepares them for the job they have to do. It also breaks the bitter cycle of unemployment that these people, both young and mature age, have experienced.

The result in Inverell was a 90 per cent success rate. It is better than the 80 per cent average in western Sydney, where the scheme was first trialled. It bodes well for the extension of the scheme into other parts of regional New South Wales. What I particularly like about this program is the hands-on consultative approach. Although it is not rocket science to knit together the expectations of employers with the skill base of employees, it does not always happen. There are, of course, reasons for this as many training programs cater for a broad range of employment opportunities and exclude many people who do not or cannot undertake intensive study

I commend the Department of Education and Training for taking the initiative to fill the gap through the Corporate Partners for Change Program. The program was introduced through the Office of the Minister for Western Sydney almost 10 years ago. The program involves a partnership between the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Department of Education and Training, local government agencies, businesses and the community. The stated aim was to help people find jobs and to overcome the skills gap in employment growth areas. The 80 per cent success rate in finding positions for disadvantaged groups, including the long-term unemployed, was seen as a model that could be successfully deployed in regional New South Wales. As a result, funding has been provided by the Board of Vocational Education and Training to extend the model to regional areas through 2008 and 2009.

The programs are run through the Department of Education and Training State Training Centres, which take on the role as brokers between business, training organisations and employers. These centres also ensure that there is a high level of employer input to deliver training relevant to industries, promoting business growth and supporting the local economy. Programs are currently being run in the New England North West, the Illawarra-Shoalhaven and the Central Coast, with more proposed for the North Coast and the Hunter. Industries where programs are currently running or proposed to be running within the next two to six months are meat processing, aged care, call centres, child care, finance, horticulture and construction. After the State Training Centres have identified employers and developed the customised training the program is advertised through community organisations, the job network and local media.

Applicants attend an information session and are selected for interview by employer representatives. Selected applicants complete the training and work experience. Employers involved in the program conduct interviews at program completion for jobs, traineeships or apprenticeships. A great benefit is that the training is provided free or at a very low cost, depending on the industry and the need. Employers involved in the program ensure that training is meeting their needs and also gain access to a pool of skilled people with proven high retention rates who are job ready. It is a recipe for success, as shown in my electorate, and I welcome it as a positive initiative for regional New South Wales.