2012 Media Statements

Budget Hope for Skills and Economic Growth

17 May 2012

The Industry Training Federation will be looking to next week’s Budget to deliver policy that better links tertiary education funding to skills and economic growth.

“In a time of tight budgeting, what we expect Government to deliver as part of its budget is initiatives that utilise existing funding more strategically,” Chief Executive Mark Oldershaw said today.  Read more

Learning Increases Earnings

2 May 2012

Not only do industry trainees have the advantage of learning while they’re earning, but new research from the Department of Labour confirms they also improve their ongoing earnings.

Industry Training Federation Chief Executive Mark Oldershaw said the new research showed that trainees who gained qualifications at level 2 or above, increased their earnings.

Gaining qualifications also improved the retention rate of staff, he said.  Read more

Nice name but where do the skills fit in?

15 March 2012

The Government needs to ensure that its new super Ministry does not forget the role that education and skills play in business, innovation and employment.

Industry Training Federation Chief Executive Mark Oldershaw said the two international examples of business-facing government departments the Prime Minister cited in his speech today included skills, and tertiary education.  Read more

Changes to the school system will support youth employment

19 February 2012

Changes pending in the school system, instigated by Industry Training Organisations (ITOs), will support young people into jobs, Industry Training Chief Executive Mark Oldershaw said today.

Mr Oldershaw was responding to the Salvation Army’s new State of the Nation Report highlighting low youth employment and the number of youth not in employment, education or training.

He said ITOs were a key force behind the vocational pathways work that had been adopted by the Ministry of Education as part of its youth guarantee.  Read more