FED:Skills program failed to address shortages

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2011
FED:Skills program failed to address shortages

It's been revealed a federal government program to highlight skills shortages has been
largely used to target lower cost, low-infrastructure courses that don't match the skills
shortages plaguing the Australian economy.

The pro vice-chancellor of the University of Ballarat ANDREW SMITH has told The Australian
newspaper the program, which was designed to provide more than 700-thousand training places
over five years, focused on low-cost courses.

The paper reports a mid-term review of the Productivity Places Program by Allen Consulting
shows that despite the program's size it's failed to adequately target training to skills
shortages.

Mr SMITH says the data, obtained under Freedom of Information, bears out the claim
that the program has targeted lower cost, low-infrastructure courses, such as security
officers and sales representatives.

AAP RTV ct/psm/

KEYWORD: SKILLS (SYDNEY)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.