Tennant Creek Jobs and Skills Forum

The Albanese Labor Government is committed to delivering skills to the Northern Territory to provide the workers that businesses need, and give local people opportunities for secure employment, while building a stronger economy.

The Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor today visited Tennant Creek to meet with local employers, service providers and learners to discuss the skills needs for the Northern Territory.

Hosted by Marion Scrymgour MP and Charles Darwin University, Minister O’Connor listened to locals at a jobs and skills forum to understand the unique challenges Tennant Creek faces.

“According to the OECD, Australia is experiencing the second most severe labour shortage in the developed world. That is most evident in places like Tennant Creek where skilled workers are in short supply,” Minister O’Connor said.

“Employers cannot get the staff they want, and we need to be equipping local people with the skills and training they need with a focus on immediate demands and emerging labour market needs.

“That is why I’m here today, with my colleague Marion Scrymgour to work with locals to ensure we are delivering the skills needed.”

“I’m pleased to be able to bring my colleague, The Honourable Brendan O’Connor the Minister for Skills and Training, to Tennant Creek to engage with employers and service providers and listen to the skills that they need to grow their local economy," Ms Scrymgour said.

The Minister also visited the Literacy for Life Foundation’s (LfLF) Tennant Creek to meet with participants in a foundation skills program delivered in partnership with Julalikari Aboriginal Corporation.

“Foundation skills such as basic literacy, digital literacy and numeracy, are those fundamental abilities required to participate in our economy and in our society, and Literacy for Life Foundation is doing important work to deliver these skills,” Minister O’Connor said.

“The Albanese Government has announced we will support the design and delivery of a study to gauge the literacy, numeracy and digital literacy skills of Australia’s adult population, so everyone can have an opportunity to participate in training and work,” Minister O'Connor said.

“We understand how important skills in literacy and numeracy are to closing the gap and that is why this initiative is so crucial to First Nations people in ensuring that they can participate in the workforce," Ms Scrymgour said.

"People in the regions face unique challenges and barriers to education, but everyone should have the opportunity to learn foundational skills wherever you live.

“Studies like the one being supported by the Albanese Labor Government show that the Territory does better under a Labor Government and that regions like Tennant Creek are not forgotten about."