ALA

The Brumby Government announced a $700,000 retraining program for 590 workers affected by South Pacific Tyre’s closure of its Somerton production plant. Skills and Workforce Participation Minister Jacinta Allan said the Skill Up program will help retrenched workers upgrade their skills or develop new skills so they can re-enter the workforce as quickly as possible. “The Brumby Government’s Skill Up initiative is a rapid response program to retrain workers who are retrenched as a result of major industry downturn or workplace closure,” Ms Allan said. “Kangan Batman Institute of TAFE will deliver the program which includes pre-enrolment counselling to ensure that training is matched to prospective employment opportunities.”