Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Bernardi for the question, because Senator Bernardi and I are as one in our desire to ensure that Australian students, whether they are in schools, in training or in universities, are receiving skills and education and training that is relevant to the jobs of today and the jobs of the future. Last week, I was very pleased to join the Prime Minister and the member for Corangamite, Sarah Henderson, for the launch of our P-TECH pilot schools. Newcomb Secondary School in Geelong and then subsequently Federation College in Ballarat have been announced as the first P-TECH pilot schools in Australia.

P-TECH is a very innovative program that the Prime Minister personally brought back from the United States to Australia. Pathways in Technology Early College High School is around the world now and is providing strong linkages between industry, business and high schools. In doing so, it is providing enormous opportunities for students in those schools to benefit from real work-placement opportunities and real industry experience. These two schools—Newcomb in Geelong and Federation College in Ballarat—will benefit enormously from being the first pilot schools that this government rolls out under P-TECH.

I am amazed there has not been a warmer reaction to this announcement from some of those opposite, although I did note when it was first indicated last year that we would be pursuing P-TECH there was dissension on the other side. Senator Carr welcomed the announcement while Ms Ellis, the shadow minister for education, criticised the announcement. I hope and trust that those on the other side have lined up their policy to make sure they are supporting this type of innovation in schools that will give students work-ready training and the opportunity for real work placements with local businesses and local employers.