EMMA MCBRIDE MP
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR DOBELL
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR CARERS

COASTIES EXCLUDED FROM VOCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS

The Federal Government is, once again, overlooking people on the north end of the Coast by excluding them from the next round of the Commonwealth Scholarships Program for Young Australians.

Under this program, scholarships of up to $13,000 are on offer for those wanting to undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship in 10 selected regions across Australia.

In NSW, this includes Gosford but completely excludes the north end of the Coast.

“This program overlooks jobseekers and employers on the north of the Coast,” Federal Member for Dobell, Emma McBride said.

“Young people living outside of big cities have always struggled to get a fair shot at training and employment opportunities, and that’s only been heightened during the pandemic.

“At the peak of COVID when work was scarce, there were higher numbers of young people looking for work on the northern end of the Coast, so why have they been excluded from this program?”

At the same time, the Coast is facing a skills shortage with cuts to vocational education under the Morrison government leading to a drop of 231 apprentices in Dobell over the last eight years.

“It makes no sense to exclude Dobell from this program, when the Central Coast is one region,” Ms. McBride said.

“Young workers living across the entire Coast could use a scholarship like this to upskill and find more secure work.”

The government needs to explain why they’ve excluded Dobell from the program, and why it shouldn’t be included in the future.

Every young person, wherever they live on the Coast, deserves a shot at quality training and a secure future.

FRIDAY 28 JANUARY, 2022