Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. Can the minister please inform the Senate—

Senator Conroy interjecting—

Senator Kim Carr interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Carr and Senator Conroy! Start again, thank you, Senator Bernardi.

Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. Could the minister inform the Senate how the government is supporting secondary school students navigate the vital pathway from school to further training or a job?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Link to 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.

Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Would the minister advise the Senate which employers have agreed to be involved in pilot programs and what they will offer secondary school students?

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

We have wonderful support from local employers in both Geelong and Ballarat to give students opportunities to participate in their workplaces and for their staff to participate in the school environment to provide this job-ready training. In Geelong, Sky Software, Barwon Health and Bendigo Bank are all supporting the initiative as part of a consortia put together by the Committee for Geelong. In Ballarat, IBM, who have championed the advancement of P-TECH globally, will be the local partner. IBM will be providing support across both sides and indeed are providing significant financial support that complements the government's own financial support. We are grateful and indebted to these employers for being willing to step forward and provide their time and commitment—

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know who is in debt—that is the apprentices.

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

Senator Cameron is not even interested in the advancement of opportunities for school students, sadly. But these employers are interested and these employers are doing something by giving their time for this important pilot. (Time expired)

Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Unlike Senator Cameron, I am interested in the opportunities and I ask the minister to advise the Senate when these pilot programs will commence and what support is being provided to school communities?

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

I am pleased to say these pilots will commence from next year. Students will have the opportunity in 2016 to start streaming through the pathways in technology program in Geelong and Ballarat. This will give the students enormous new opportunities. We are providing support through a contract the government have entered into with the Skilling Australia Foundation, who will be engaging with local communities and with the involved employers and ensuring that teachers, parents and students have the support of the curriculum that they need, that the models that IBM have developed are rolled out in a way that complements the Australian curriculum and Australian learning environments so that we are building on the best of our education system. Local advisory boards will be in place to help both of the pilots operate. I acknowledge the support of the Victorian government in that regard, as well, who are working cooperatively with us because they recognise this initiative, brought to Australia at the instigation personally of Prime Minister Abbott, will provide students in Geelong and Ballarat with the work-ready skills for the future. (Time expired)