Federal Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor visited Tennant Creek last week to meet local employers, service providers and learners at a jobs and skills forum.

The forum was hosted by Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour and Charles Darwin University. Minister O’Connor said he listened to locals to understand the unique challenges Tennant Creek faces.

“According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Australia is experiencing the second most severe labour shortage in the developed world. That is most evident in places like Tennant Creek where skilled workers are in short supply,” he said.

“Employers cannot get the staff they want, and we need to be equipping local people with the skills and training they need with a focus on immediate demands and emerging labour market needs.”

The Minister also visited the Literacy for Life Foundation’s (LfLF) Tennant Creek to meet with participants in a foundation skills program delivered in partnership with Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation.

“Foundation skills such as basic literacy, digital literacy and numeracy, are those fundamental abilities required to participate in our economy and in our society, and Literacy for Life Foundation is doing important work to deliver these skills,” Minister O’Connor said.

“The Albanese Government has announced we will support the design and delivery of a study to gauge the literacy, numeracy and digital literacy skills of Australia’s adult population, so everyone can have an opportunity to participate in training and work. Ms Scrymgour said she understands how important skills in literacy and numeracy are to closing the gap and that is why this initiative is so crucial to First Nations people in ensuring that they can participate in the workforce.

“People in the regions face unique challenges and barriers to education, but everyone should have the opportunity to learn foundational skills wherever you live,” she said.

“Studies like the one being supported by the Albanese Labor Government show that the Territory does better under a Labor Government and that regions like Tennant Creek are not forgotten about.”

This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 4 November 2022.