Employment Education and Training Minister, Syd Stirling, visited Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) Casuarina campus last week to announce $37 million in funding for CDU to train more Territorians.
The announcement, part of a series pre-budget commitments, promised more than $80 million to support training in the Northern Territory.
CDU’s Dean of Technology, Dr Steve Shanahan said: “CDU currently trains the majority of the Territory’s apprentices. As such we welcome any encouragement from Government that will help address the chronic skills shortage areas in the Territory.
“In particular, the employer incentives will help employers to take on new apprentices. Such incentives will have immediate impact on our student numbers, which have already increased from last year by about 17 per cent.”
The funding, announced at one of the CDU’s welding workshop, will see financial incentives for employers to take on additional apprentices and trainees.
“The Martin Government is intent on building a strong Territory future through the development of a skilled workforce. We cannot rely on interstate or overseas immigration. We must train our own people,” Minister Stirling said.
“We look forward to working closely with the Government to deliver training for new apprentices in the Territory,” Dr Shanahan said.