A program that helps western suburbs students gain work experience at petrochemical companies like Mobil and Cummins is set to be slashed under the federal budget.
Bayside P-12 College business manager Carrolyn Hancock said the Partnership Brokers program gave students work experience placement and industry exposure.
“Now that schools don’t really have technical training centres, the only place kids can really get that technical experience is through companies like Mobil and Cummins where the kids can go and see an industrial setting in operation,” she said.
Bayside College and Williamstown High School students also complete a week-long project based at Mobil under the program.
Federal Gellibrand MP Tim Watts said that with the loss of manufacturing jobs across the west, the program was vital for students to gain the skills and job opportunities needed in a tough job market.
“Victoria’s youth unemployment rate is one of the highest in the nation and we need programs like this to give our kids the best chance at finding work,” he said.
Senator Scott Ryan, parliamentary secretary to Education Minister Christopher Pyne, would not say if the program’s funding would be renewed.
“Under the previous Labor government there was no funding for Partnership Brokers beyond the end of 2014,” he said.
“No budget was provided for the program to continue beyond the end of this year.
“Any future funding is the subject of considerations as part of the 2014 federal budget process.”
