Workforce Planning Tools

South Australian State Budget and Skills for All countdown

“The 2012–13 State Budget has the lowest net spending since this Government came to office,” Mr Snelling said.

Living within our means or ‘living thin’ is the theme of the budget.

“The new spending initiatives we have announced in the 2012-13 State Budget have been targeted at people who need it most, with record spending in disabilities, into areas of high need and into initiatives that make a difference to South Australians.”

These include:

• • $212.5 million to boost to disability services, the largest injection into disabilities in more than 25 years;
• • $45.7 million on a one-off Water Security Rebate to help alleviate the costs of increased water prices;
• • $38.3 million on a new Mining and Engineering Industry Training Centre to ensure South Australians have the skills for the mining jobs of the future;
• • $30.4 million on a new digital system for pathology testing for better patient care in our health system;
• • $28.7 million to redevelop the Parks Community Centre in Adelaide’s north western suburbs;
• • $20 million to make sure South Australia is ready for a launch of the National Disability Insurance Scheme;
• • $19.8 million in additional funding to boost support for our children in need of alternative care;
• • $8.3 million to boost equipment and training for our emergency services;
• • $8.3 million on an Advanced Manufacturing Strategy to support growth in this vital sector;
• • $5.6 million to extend the $8000 First Home Bonus Grant for at least another 12 months;
• • $5.1 million for a stamp duty concessions for people buying off-the-plan apartments in the City; and
• • $3.3 million for a pilot program in Adelaide’s northern suburbs for early support for vulnerable families with infants with young children.

Workforce development opportunities in the budget include:

• Disability sector and not for profits to transition to service provision with the National Disability Insurance Scheme – $1 million over two years to support planning and preparation for the transition from the current block funding arrangements to a more competitive disability services environment in line with a proposed NDIS.
• Mining and Engineering industry training, mobile workforces and skills for support service providers – $38.3 million on a dedicated centre of training excellence for the mining, engineering, defence and transport industries
• Outplacement, career development and skills recognition (RPL) for public servants
• Small and medium enterprise capability to bid for and win contracts
• Transference of skilled workers across major projects, infrastructure building and upgrades with NEW projects including:

-          $110 million on the grade separation of the Goodwood rail junction;

-          $19 million to build a dedicated Mining and Engineering Industry Training Centre at Regency Park;

-          $13.2 million on the upgrade and signalisation of the intersection of Tiver Road and Main North Road at Evanston;

-          $11.9 million on the Parks Community Centre redevelopment;

• Water industry and implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan
• Volunteer training for emergency services:

-          “The CFS and SES will receive $2.6 million over the next four years for the nationally endorsed training. There will be six frontline training staff to bolster frontline support to volunteers,” he said.  Both the CFS/SES are required to provide training in areas such as fire fighting, road crash rescue and marine search and rescue.

• Advanced Manufacturing sector with $8.3 million over four years for the implementation of an Advanced Manufacturing Strategy including a Mining Industry Participation Office, an Advanced Manufacturing Council, industry intelligence and capability mapping, as well as improving links between research institutions and industry to drive innovation.
• Early Childhood, Infant and Family based programs
• Digital Health system implementation and related skills
• Defence Teaming Centre $2 million for the peak association
• Critical Skills Investment Program $48.1 million for traineeships and apprenticeships in priority skills areas and through Group Training Organisations
• New Regional Development Fund would provide $3 million per year on programs that support regional economic development, employment and the attraction of new investment.

Some of the key savings initiatives announced as part of the 2012-13 State Budget include:

• • $372.9 million on the suspension of the electrification of the Gawler and Outer Harbor rail lines. The electrification of the Noarlunga line through to Seaford and the network train capacity will increase;
• • $255.6 million on making the public service more efficient by increasing their efficiency dividend from 0.25% to 1.0% from 2013-14 to be offset by $81.9 million of spending on a new public sector skills and retention entitlement to retain experienced public servants;
• • $166.8 million on the reduction of 1000 full-time equivalent employees in the public service through either targeted voluntary separation packages (TVSP) or natural attrition to be offset by $60.4 million of spending to the cost of providing TVSPs over the same period;
• • $121.2 million on deferring the abolition of stamp duty on non-real property transfers;
• • $77 million on deferring a redevelopment of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and a rehabilitation in-patient unit at the Modbury Hospital.
• • Merging the Department of Environment and Natural Resources with the Department of Water, not renewing the Government’s lease on corporate facilities at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre and ending funding for the Thinkers in Residence program and the Integrated Design Commission; and
• • $120.4 million on the abolition of payroll tax exemptions for eligible apprentices and trainees to be offset by $48.1 million of spending re-target support directly to registered group training organisations.

Apprenticeships and traineeships

The Government will change the way it supports apprentices and trainees to coincide with the commencement of the Skills For All training scheme – abolishing payroll tax exemptions and targeting funding for qualifications that are of strategic importance.

Group training organisations (GTO) will be rewarded as Australian Apprenticeship completions rates are at least 10% higher than non GTO’s.  Organisations employing an apprentice/trainee in a priority skill area will receive a completion bonus.

Skills for All from July 2012

Skills for All provider contract terms and conditions have been released with providers expectant to hear news if they have been offered a contract, aiming to understand the student eligibility criteria, the subsidised training list, and waiting to be listed as a Skills for All training provider.   Skills in the workplace applications are open and throughout June 2012 the Hon Tom Kenyon MP will be visiting regions launching the new regional networks (former SA Works Networks).

A new Critical Skills Investment Program has been allocated $48.1 million over four years in the State Budget. It will support training in areas of critical skills needs, and to increase the numbers of apprentices and trainees who complete their training.

Coming soon   – By July 2012, Skills for All training providers and the courses they are approved to deliver will be listed on this website, with contact information for every provider.

Webinars and Workshops

Get ahead of the reform and changes, build you capability in workforce development and planning and register your interested by emailing wendy@workforceblueprint.com.au for these upcoming webinars:

• Budget 2012-13 – Workforce Development and Planning
• Engaging Employers, Stakeholders and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises
• Funding for Workforce Development and Planning Initiatives
• NBN for e-Learning
• Workforce Plan Tool
• VET Reform: the National Picture

For further information on the 2012-13 South Australian state budget go to: http://www.statebudget.sa.gov.au/home.html

Written by Wendy Perry, Head Workforce Planner at Workforce BluePrint and Managing Director, WPAA.