Vocational Education and Training available from 2 January 2019

During my visit to Norfolk Island many issues were raised with me, including the need for Norfolk Island residents to have access to the full variety of education opportunities, such as Vocational Education and Training (VET).

Today, I am pleased to let you know that from 2 January 2019 VET courses will be available to Norfolk Island residents who are 15 years or older.

From this date, VET students will be subsidised the difference between the course fee they pay and the fee they would pay, for the same course, in another state or territory.

I am advised that there may be up to 47 Norfolk Island residents seeking to undertake vocational training in 2019, and it is very pleasing to me that this fee discount can now happen.

The sorts of qualifications people may wish to take up include those that lead to working in a trade—carpenters, chefs, plumbers or early childhood teachers. Courses including nursing and aged care will strengthen the skills and help people stay on the Island.

The Administrator, Eric Hutchinson, has been a strong advocate for better access to VET. My Department has also been working very hard, in partnership with employment agency PeoplePlus to make this happen. I take this opportunity to thank everybody involved in this work.

Additional information on eligibility, how to enroll in a course and how to apply for financial assistance will be available soon on my Department's website. I anticipate this will be by 15 December, 2018, once we have finalised the guidelines.

While I know there are many other important issues that also need to be addressed, including increasing freight movements and access to other state-type services and grants. This represents another step on that journey.

Thank you for your patience and support as we move forward together.