The Tasmanian Government recognises that reskilling and upskilling Tasmanians is essential to rebuilding our economy and rolling out our $3.1 billion Rebuilding Tasmania Construction Blitz.

Today’s Skills roundtable focused on the skills needed to deliver the Government’s infrastructure pipeline. Peak industry, business and union representatives discussed the need for a collaborative approach to skills development in Tasmania.

Getting Tasmanians back to work, and skilling more Tasmanians, is key to our economic rebound, especially when it is underpinned by our job-creating construction blitz.

Participants noted the opportunities for encouraging more Tasmanians into apprenticeships and traineeships, and although Tasmania’s completions rates are the highest in the country there is more that industry, training providers and the VET system can do working together.

We will work closely with industry to increase mentoring opportunities for apprentices and trainees, continue our focus on career pathways from school to work and promote VET as a great pathway for a new career.

Our $6.3 million Rapid Response Skills program, $16 million Energising Tasmania skills, funding Small Business Grants, Payroll Tax relief and Federal Apprentice Incentives means there has never been a better time to hire an apprentice.

We look forward to working closely with our industry and community leaders, and will meet again with other sectors of the economy to discuss their specific skills and workforce development needs.

Skills Tasmania and the Tasmanian Building and Construction Training Board will coordinate the next steps arising from today’s discussion.