Your help is needed - Schools Industry Partnership Funding Axed

15-Apr-2014 Your help is needed - Schools Industry Partnership Funding Axed
To all our dear friends and loyal volunteer employers.

It is with a very sad heart that I share the bad news that the Federal Government is set to kill off funding to organisations like the Schools Industry Partnership.

After more than a decade and many tens of thousands of students prepared for the world of work, it seems the Federal government now believes kids can fend for themselves.

Naturally we believe this to be a false saving, as the cost of youth unemployment will soon outstrip any possible short term savings. It is often too late, and far more expensive to address youth unemployment when a young person presents at Centrelink. Volunteer parents and employer working with schools is not only more effective and its far cheaper.
See Sydney Morning Herald Thursday 10th April, or click the link.

I am at a loss for words, as we have done our best to try and demonstrate the value of our program, and the powerful effect of having volunteer employers engage with young people and prepare them for the world of work, but it seems to have no affect. I sincerely believe Fiona Scott and Lousie Markus care deeply, but this is being pushed through regardless.

You just can't do job readiness through a text book or web site. Trying to prepare kids for real careers without employer partnerships is like trying to teach someone to swim without getting them wet.

You can read more about it on the Sydney Morning Herald website by clicking the link below.

Hopefully you will feel motivated to email or phone Minister Pyne or your local Federal Member and encourage them to reconsider this misguided decision before the budget is totally locked down forever.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/successful-youth-unemployment-service-facing-axe-as-government-stays-silent-on-funding-20140409-zqsbb.html

Thank you for all your past support for the young people in Western Sydney, and please help us reverse this ill-informed decision.

Ian Palmer
CEO
Schools Industry Partnership

Just copy the letter below - fill in the highlighted details and then click here to send that email to Minister Pyne - then paste the letter into the email and press send.

Just copy the letter below - fill in the highlighted details and then click here to send that email to Minister Ian McFarlane - then paste the letter into the email and press send.

Just copy the letter below - fill in the highlighted details and then click here to send that email to Minister Eric Abetz - then paste the letter into the email and press send.



Dear Ministers
News that the Schools Business Partnership Broker program may not be included in the May budget is of concern to the plans of our association to address skills shortages in our industry.

<Business Name> specialises in <Insert Services>.

Our business relies upon a highly skilled and motivated workforce. We share the concerns of the Visual Industries Suppliers Association that we need to do far more to prepare young people for the world of work and commit to a formal pattern of study or apprenticeship.
VISA’s investment in the Work Inspiration program has been substantial, and is starting to show real results in several states. As a national association VISA plan to continue to move into many more regions, and interest young people in apprenticeships and TAFE training aligned to our skills shortages.
While our business supportive of engaging with young people, we simply do not have the time to endlessly knock on doors to all our local schools and negotiate with them.
We need a one stop service that makes it easy for us to help interest kids into a productive pattern of study and commit to careers with a future.
In recent times the Schools Business Community Partnership Broker Program has proven to be a highly engaging and effective model for all concerned.
So much so that at least one school sector is planning towards expanding its curriculum offering in 2015 so students inspired by career opportunities in our industry will be able to continue their studies through to Year 12. Students will be able to graduate school and already have a partial qualification towards a Certificate III Apprenticeship.
We call on the government to continue the support for the local partnership services that help enable young people to explore the skilled career pathways of the future.

Yours sincerely

Sign your name here

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