A ‘CRISIS meeting’ has been called in response to setbacks to the Latrobe Valley’s training and workforce base.
The Gippsland Trades and Labour Council has called in the region’s training providers and industry players to develop a response to the tumultuous period, in which the Valley has seen State Government funding cuts to GippsTAFE campuses, apprenticeship and employee layoffs at Apprenticeships Group Australia, and job losses through restructuring of large companies in the tight economic climate.
“If we don’t get a handle on this it will be a crisis; everyday we are picking up these job losses,” GTLC secretary John Parker said.
“We’ve got apprentices in the middle of their apprenticeships being stood down, and the likelihood of the AGA taking on another intake next year is looking fairly grim.”
Mr Parker said the potential vacuum of quality skill-based training providers in the Valley could give rise to “dodgy” training providers who give out “ticker-tape” certificates without quality training, further impacting on the region’s skill shortage.
The talks will be held at the Waratah Training restaurant at GippsTAFE Morwell on Friday, 25 May.
