Celia Hammond (Curtin, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Whether it's getting our blood or body tissue tested, pathology is a service which we have all no doubt relied on for the most important thing in our lives—which is our health. I was recently lucky enough to visit Clinipath Pathology in Osborne Park and speak with their executive and their trainees about the exciting new developments for Clinipath, especially their training initiatives.

Clinipath has partnered successfully with LTT Training Group for over 10 years to provide on-the-job practical training for its trainees. This includes a system of microcredentialling, where trainees are able to complete three units of the 15 needed for a cert III. This includes a COVID-19 collection and testing microcredential, which is increasingly vital to providing frontline testing capacity for surges in COVID-19 cases.

Clinipath currently has 106 active trainees. Of these, 64 are on the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy. The Clinipath executive explained that by lowering employment costs this scheme has given them the confidence to take on new trainees and, even better, to convert some casual staff into permanent positions. It was welcoming to hear that this government's initiative in the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy program is making such an impact to the people in my state and, particularly, in my area.