A new vocational training centre that provides young people with the skills and qualifications to transition from school to work has officially opened today.

The state-of-the-art Palmerston Youth Skills Centre offers flexible training for secondary school students and youth who have disengaged, or are at risk of disengaging from school.

It also provides young people leaving detention with supportive re-entry into learning.

Courses enable students to receive qualifications across a range of industries including engineering, animal studies, hospitality, electro-technology, construction and automotive.

The Palmerston Youth Skills Centre caters for up to 300 students, who receive mentoring to help maximise their participation and make the most of training opportunities.

All vocational education and training (VET) courses on offer at the Centre are nationally accredited, delivered by registered training organisations and offered at the Australian Qualifications Framework levels I and II.

Students have a choice of three pathways:

• Career Pathways – a VET certificate program for young people wanting to pursue careers in construction, electro-technology, engineering, automotive or hospitality industries;
• Accredited Short Courses – these courses deliver specialist training in digital literacy, drones, robotics and artificial intelligence; support the worksite placements and learning opportunities with participating employers; and develop foundation employability skills and workplace literacy, language and numeracy skills; and
• Accredited and Non-Accredited Short Courses – these are available to help young people decide on appropriate learning pathways and to prepare for training at the Palmerston Youth Skills Centre.

Each pathway provides students with credits towards their NTCET, as well as encouraging future training, skill-progression and employment opportunities.

The Territory Labor Government invested $2.4 million towards the fit-out of the Centre with the job-creating project awarded to GDP Investments.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Lauren Moss:

“The Palmerston Youth Skills Centre offers a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment for young people.

“Our focus is on making learning engaging and accessible for all young people and that’s why we are offering alternatives to traditional learning models.

“Industries experiencing staff shortages, such as hospitality, will also benefit from job-ready graduates.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Drysdale Eva Lawler:

“The Territory Labor Government is investing in the people of Palmerston.

“The Palmerston Youth Skills Centre will keep at-risk young people off the streets and engaged in educational activities to help develop their life skills.

“We want our young people and Palmerston youth to their develop skills and become job and employment ready.”

Media contact: Jasmin Afianos – 0419 361 127