Community Resource Centres will have to compete with local governments for previously allocated trainee funding, following a state government announcement of a $2 million regional traineeship program.
The program, announced by regional development minister Alannah MacTiernan on Wednesday, offers grants of up to $30,000 to CRCs and local government authorities to provide training, skills and employment opportunities in their area.
Twenty-two local governments that do not have CRCs, including Northam and Chittering, will be able to apply for the funding.
During a meeting of the legislative council in August 2018, Nationals member for the Agriculture region Martin Aldridge asked Minister MacTiernan if the $2 million program would come out of CRC funding.
“We indicated that the $2 million for regional training through the CRCs would, as a matter of equity, be made available to those local authorities that do not have CRCs, excluding the large what we might call ‘regional capitals’,” she said.
“We are looking at, I think, in the order of between 20 and 30 local government authorities spread right throughout the state that currently do not have CRCs.
“It is certainly our view that regional equity—I am sure that the member would support us in this—will allow those local authorities the opportunity to participate.”
CRCs and local governments eligible for the program have until February 25 to submit an application.
Mr Aldridge said the announcement was a harsh blow for CRCs, who have only just recovered from a potential loss of funds last year.
He said if all 22 eligible local governments applied and received the full grant it would represent a $660,000 cut to the CRC training pool.
“If the government feels the need to invest in local government capacity it should do just that by establishing a dedicated program for that purpose, not diverting monies from CRC funds,” Mr Aldridge said.
“One of the eligible local governments has an annual budget approaching $50 million. This demonstrates many have the capacity to engage trainees if there is a local need.”
Minister MacTiernan said the traineeship grants are designed to help towns in regional WA, regardless of whether they have a CRC or not.
"We want to see CRCs and local governments work with local businesses to get the best outcomes for their trainees, and to ensure traineeships are available more broadly across regional Western Australia,” she said.
"This program will support those in the workforce to increase their skills and employability, and provide training opportunities for regional people looking to enter the workforce.
"A competitive application process for traineeships will help ensure it is delivering the best outcomes for trainees and regional communities."
The chief executive for Linkwest, the peak body for CRCs, Jane Chilcott said she welcomes the program but time will tell how the new funding model will impact local communities.
“There is some concern that CRCs with lesser resources than local shires may be disadvantaged in the competitive grant application progress,” Ms Chilcott said.
“However, until the first grant round has been completed it is difficult to judge if this concern is justified.
“As the Peak for CRCs we will support our members and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to ensure that this traineeship program has the best outcome for regional trainees.”
