SPARKs fly as training initiative moves southside

The SPARK training and employment initiative is expanding to provide courses in southern Canberra. Delivered by the Ginninderry Joint Venture with the assistance of ACT Government funding, SPARK provides training for Canberrans to help them get into work.

The first program in southern Canberra will be the SPARK Business Administration Pre-employment program run by CIT Tuggeranong. This Certificate II in Business will be heavily subsidised for up to 20 participants from the capital region, with the majority of program costs covered by the ACT Government’s Skilled Capital initiative.

“The ACT Government is committed to developing the skills of the ACT workforce, including getting more people into work,” said Joy Burch MLA, representing Minister for Vocational Education and Skills Meegan Fitzharris.

“Ginninderry’s SPARK programs are aimed at key disadvantaged groups who are disconnected from the labour market: youth, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, parents returning to work, mature aged people, veterans, long term unemployed and culturally and linguistically diverse people.

“This expansion follows the success of the program in north Canberra, where it has delivered training to over 700 Canberrans, since 2016. It’s great that people on the southside will now have access to this great program closer to home,” said Ms Burch.

Through Ginninderry’s access to infrastructure works and other local projects, SPARK delivers vital ‘hands-on’ skills and helps people into employment in industries such as civil construction, home and building construction, horticulture, conservation land management, aged care, home and community care, disability services, childcare, retail and hospitality.