Budget 19 invests in NT skills training

A new skills training and infrastructure package has been provided for the Northern Territory under the 2019 Budget.

Treasurer Nicole Manison has announced $8.4 million in funding over two years for Territory Workforce 4.0, which will help Territorians prepare for the jobs of the future.

“The Territory Labor Government is putting Territorians first with the Territory Workforce 4.0 future skills training and infrastructure package,” said Manison.

“It will train locals for future employment opportunities and provide industry with the workforce it needs to grow our economy.

“There are excellent career opportunities in the Territory and this will only increase in coming years — we want locals to win those jobs.”

The Territory Government aims to skill the next generation of Territorians to fill jobs that service a highly technological community in the future.

The skills training may include advanced automation and robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, sensor technology, cybersecurity and data analytics.

Apart from training locals, Territory Workforce 4.0 will also support new and emerging businesses with trained staff while diversifying the economy.

The package also funds infrastructure so private registered training organisations and industry associations can have contemporary training facilities and technology to enhance innovation and expand the international student market.

The Territory Workforce 4.0 package includes the below annually for two years:

• $2.2 million for Future Skills Voucher — vouchers of up to $3000 for up to 700 Territorians to access future skills training.
• $1 million for the Future Proofing Training Infrastructure Fund.
• $1 million for flexible funding dedicated to regional areas for building future skills.
   

The Treasurer also confirmed Budget 19 would contain another big job-creating infrastructure spend of $1.45 billion, following on from serious investments in the last two budgets.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Olivier Le Moal

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