By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
THE State Government has now promised funding to the Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) in 2015, but refused to make any more funding promises for the LLENs beyond next year.
Education Minister Martin Dixon last Thursday promised the government would spend $8 million on the LLENs – including on the South East LLEN (SELLEN) based in Dandenong – in 2015 if successful in the November poll, with its current funding arrangement to finish at the end of 2014.
Mr Dixon’s announcement came days after the Opposition promised to spend $32 million on the 31 Victorian LLENs over four years, if it wins the election.
The Victorian LLENs, which have existed since 2001, have been co-funded by the state and federal governments from 2010 to 2014, but from next year the funding will be the responsibility of the Victorian Government alone.
In 2014 the Federal Government supplied $10 million to the Victorian LLENs and the State Government funded $2.3 million, a total of $12.3 million, according to SELLEN.
But Mr Dixon said the total funding amount for the LLENs from the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments in 2014 was $13.3 million.
He said the Napthine Government’s funding for the LLENs would be increased from $2.3 million to $8 million next year but did not commit to a funding promise beyond 2015.
“New arrangements will be developed with input from LLENS, Workplace Learning Co-ordinators, schools, industry and other stakeholders that support improved educational outcomes in the new context without Federal Government funding in 2016,” Mr Dixon said.
While SELLEN CEO Andrew Simmons said he was buoyed by the government’s announcement, he remained concerned there had been no commitment from the Liberal Party beyond next year.
“We’re certainly encouraged that they’ve made a commitment and that they recognise the work we do but a one-year rollover does create further uncertainty, not just for us but for the young people we try to benefit,” he said.
Labor candidate Gabrielle Williams and Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan were at SELLEN last Tuesday to confirm the Opposition’s $32 million promise over four years.
“This is a deadly serious issue around Dandenong and around Casey because with the loss of those unskilled jobs, we need to ensure that we upskill our youth, and have them focused on a particular outcome,” Mr Donnellan said.
“You’ve got to have that service available to people around here because so many jobs have been lost over the last couple of years.”
