Retrenched BlueScope steelworkers will be offered fee-free training to help get them back on their feet.
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Effective immediately, affected workers can complete a full or part qualification and have its cost waived.
More than 700 qualifications have been subsidised under the NSW government’s Smart and Skilled program.
Parliamentary secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward joined Minister for Skills John Barilaro and Paul Green MLC for the announcement at Wollongong’s Flagstaff Hill on Tuesday.
Mr Barilaro said the Illawarra was “facing some unique challenges” and the government had “come to the table with some unique solutions”.
“This is about making sure those people that will lose their jobs have an opportunity to retrain, reskill,” he said.
The training assistance is not limited to steelworkers, with Mr Barilaro acknowledging other businesses in the region, like Pentair in Nowra, were also doing it tough.
“We know the economy’s changing, we need some diversity in our economy and this is making sure that everybody has the opportunity to … transition into a new career,” he said.
“I’m confident today’s [Tuesday’s] package will be a light at the end of the tunnel for many of the employees.”
Asked how much the package was worth, Mr Barilaro said the cost would be determined by the number of people who take up the offer. “We’ve put in place significant funds in reserves to make sure that we offer these courses,” he said.
“Courses through vocational education and training can cost up to five or six thousand dollars per course; we’re not holding that back, we’re making sure everybody has access to fee-free.
“Let’s say, [this is] a multi million-dollar investment.”
I’m confident today’s package will be a light at the end of the tunnel for many of the employees.
- Minister for Skills, John Barilaro.
Mr Ward said: “This is a cracker Illawarra day and a cracker announcement from the NSW government”.
“The steelworks might be in the background of where we stand, but in the forefront of my mind is those families and those workers that have been affected,” he said.
Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson praised the government for “adopting yet another initiative Illawarra Labor proposed ... as part of our 10 Point Plan to support Illawarra jobs”.
On October 26, the government said BlueScope could defer up to $60 million in payroll tax over the next three years.
