$5.5 billion WA Recovery Plan launched to get WA back on track

Focus on job creation and skilling our workforce through VET

$5.5 billion WA Recovery Plan launched to get WA back on track

Focus on job creation and skilling our workforce through VET

The State Government has released the comprehensive WA Recovery Plan — the next important step in WA's COVID-19 journey that will help drive economic and social recovery across the State, and create a pipeline of jobs for Western Australians. The plan has been developed in consultation with the State Recovery Advisory Group, which includes representatives from business, industry, not-for-profit organisations, UnionsWA, the public sector, local government and the community.

The $5.5 billion investment will create thousands of local jobs in important sectors such as construction, manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, renewable energy, education and training, agriculture, mining and conservation. It includes more than $60 million for 'shovel-ready' maintenance upgrades to vital State Government facilities, expected to get underway within weeks. These projects will create an immediate boost to workers such as electricians, painters, plumbers, builders and carpenters.

One of the priority areas within the plan is rebuilding TAFE and reskilling our workforce. 

• New and upgraded specialist facilities with state of the art equipment will be constructed in the largest ever capital funding program for WA TAFE collegess. 
• $25 million has been allocated to provide free training for people to extend transferable skills and tap into new job needs  (see jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/skillsready).
• $32 million to support the Lower fees, local skills program, under which course fees for priority qualifications have been slashed by up to 72 per cent, to provide easier access to training in critical areas  (see jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/skillsready#lower-fees-local-skills-half-price-course-fees).
• $4.8 million for the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Re-engagement Incentive which offers employers one-off payments to reengage displaced workers  — $6,000 for apprentices and $3,000 for trainees  —(see jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/reengagementincentive).

The WA Recovery Plan is available at wa.gov.au/government/wa-recovery.

Full details on each element of the comprehensive WA Recovery Plan will be released in coming days and will be available at inthistogether.wa.gov.au.