A DEDICATED Jobs and Skills Centre is keeping it local, by linking job seekers with local businesses.
It supports employers to build a skilled workforce and create employment, apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities.
Through employer and jobseeker input training programs are targeted to meet industry needs.
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READ NOWThe new centre is located on the Rockingham campus of South Metropolitan TAFE.
Kwindon Blackwood is an example of the centre’s success.
The newly minted boilermaker is in his third week of paid employment..
The centre’s Aboriginal Services Co-ordinator Nate Stuart said they worked with CIVMEC and Skill Hire.
“Skill hire train the apprentices who are placed with CIVMEC, who employed Kwindon as a boilermaker,” he said.
“They act as the legal employer while CIVMEC is the host employer, that do all the on-the-job training.”
CIVMEC’S Co-ordinator for Aboriginal Affairs Rob Brittain was pleased with the results.
“It’s great for us and we have taken on a few apprentices this way,” he said.
“We are looking to increase that – in particular for the upcoming offshore patrol boat works.”
The Premier said the state was out of recession with figures for employment, business and consumer confidence all up.
“I know for so many young Rockingham and Kwinana people out of school, TAFE is so important as a next step to getting a job,” he said.
“It connects them through the defence force, mining and construction which gives them the capacity to work anywhere in the world.”
Mr Whitby agreed suitable training was good for employment.
“I know many people are struggling to find steady employment right now, and the new Centre is great because it will help locals up skill for actual jobs on the ground,” he said.