Australia’s oldest group training organisation will have a stronger voice about the future of apprenticeships and traineeships with the appointment of Hunter Valley Training Company (HVTC) CEO Sharon Smith to the Group Training Australia Limited Board.
A HVTC spokesperson said that Sharon’s appointment provides an exciting opportunity to be at the frontline of group training direction and policy.
Group Training Australia (GTA) is the national association representing a network of around 150 Group Training Organisations (GTOs) located throughout metropolitan, regional and remote areas of Australia.
Collectively, GTOs employ around 35,000 apprentices and trainees with more than 100,000 businesses using a group training organisation to manage the employment of their apprentices and trainees.
Sharon said her new role is timely given major industry reforms including the federal government’s introduction of the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network from July this year.
“I am passionate about the value and benefits of group training particularly in addressing issues of high youth unemployment in a nation with well documented skills shortages,” Sharon said.
“GTA has a key role in advocating and ensuring government response to these issues is effective and appropriate for business and industry, as well as for current and future apprentices and trainees.”
Sharon will attend her first GTA Board meeting this Friday, 13 February in Sydney.
“I am committed to do more to support the association’s collective efforts in ensuring our industry thrives and continues to work hard to secure our future viability and ongoing relevance.”