REGIONAL EDUCATION, SKILLS AND JOBS
PLAN
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
– YORKE AND MID NORTH
2012 – 2014
JULY 2013
This plan was first published in July 2012. This is the July 2013 edition.
Details in this report are correct at time of drafting.
This report can be found at the Regional Education, Skills and Jobs webpage (www.deewr.gov.au/resj) or the
My Region website (www.myregion.gov.au).
For more information about this plan, please contact:
The Office of Regional Education, Skills and Jobs
GPO Box 9880
Canberra ACT 2601
Email: oresj@deewr.gov.au
ISBN:
978-0-642-78673-9 [PDF]
978-0-642-78674-6 [DOCX]
With the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms and where otherwise noted all material presented in this
document is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia licence
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/).
The details of the relevant licence conditions (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/legalcode) are
available on the Creative Commons website (accessible using the links provided) as is the full legal code for the
CC BY 3.0 AU licence.
The document must be attributed as the Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan 2012-14 – Yorke and Mid North.
Disclaimer about data used in this plan
Data used in the development of this plan comes from a variety of sources and was correct at time of drafting. This
document should not be used as a data source as data referred to may have been updated or reformulated since
the publication of the plan. Refer to primary sources for confirmation of data.
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan – Yorke and Mid North 2
www.deewr.gov.au/resj
CONTENTS
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plans ................................................................................ 4
Strategies .................................................................................................................................................. 4
Community engagement........................................................................................................................... 4
Implementation ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Executive summary ................................................................................................................ 5
Characteristics of the region ................................................................................................... 8
Population ................................................................................................................................................. 8
Early child education and care .................................................................................................................. 9
School education ....................................................................................................................................... 9
Tertiary education and training .............................................................................................................. 10
Jobs, skills and workforce development ................................................................................................. 11
Other characteristics ............................................................................................................................... 12
Issues, goals and strategies ................................................................................................... 13
Issue 1 The availability of suitable, accessible early childhood education and child care options
across the region. .................................................................................................................................... 14
Issue 2 Improve the participation in education, skills development and employment opportunities in
the region’s Aboriginal communities. ..................................................................................................... 15
Issue 3
Improve Year 12 and equivalent attainment across the region. ............................................. 16
Issue 4
Lower the high rates of youth unemployment and disengaged youth. .................................. 17
Issue 5 Low levels of literacy and numeracy impact on individuals’ capacity to participate in
education, skills development and employment. ................................................................................... 18
Issue 6 Lack of suitably trained job seekers and experienced workers to fill existing vacancies within
the community services and health services sector across the region. ................................................. 19
Issue 7
Support local industry and employers to provide work experience opportunities. ............... 20
Issue 8 Maximise the opportunities for the local community to benefit from the investment in the
mining and resources sector. .................................................................................................................. 21
Appendices .......................................................................................................................... 22
Appendix A — Stakeholders .................................................................................................................... 22
Appendix B — Existing related plans and strategies ............................................................................... 23
Abbreviations ....................................................................................................................... 28
REGIONAL EDUCATION, SKILLS AND JOBS PLANS
The Australian Government announced the Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plans initiative in the
2011–12 Budget, as part of the Building Australia’s Future Workforce package. The initiative addresses
four key areas of the Australian Government’s productivity and social inclusion agendas: early childhood
education and care; Year 12 attainment; participation in vocational and higher education; and local job
opportunities.
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has deployed 34 Regional
Education, Skills and Jobs (RESJ) Coordinators to work with local stakeholders to develop Regional
Education, Skills and Jobs Plans for the 46 Regional Development Australia (RDA) areas that cover nonmetropolitan Australia.
The plans present locally identified opportunities and challenges and outline local strategies to improve
education, skills and jobs outcomes in regional Australia.
For more information, including the contact details of your local RESJ Coordinator, please refer to the
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs webpage at www.deewr.gov.au/resj.
Strategies
Each plan reflects community priorities and includes goals and local strategies to achieve the
community’s objectives, based on four key themes: early childhood education and care; school
education; tertiary education and training; and jobs, skills and workforce development.
The plans build on the range of services and programs already offered by DEEWR and the strategies draw
on the programs of other government agencies and the opportunities arising from major local projects.
Community engagement
The plans were developed by RESJ Coordinators with close community engagement and include views
from young people, parents, employers, educators, service providers, peak bodies, community leaders,
government organisations and agencies, and other interested individuals and organisations. The plans
draw strongly upon existing strategic plans in each region, including the local RDA regional plan.
DEEWR acknowledges the traditional owners of the Yorke and Mid North RDA region and their elders
past and present recognising their continuing connection to country. This plan strives to build and
harness mutually respectful relationships and reflect community priorities in education, skills and jobs
development for the region.
Implementation
The RESJ Coordinator, on behalf of DEEWR, will oversee the implementation of the strategies and
promote and coordinate linkages between the government agencies, providers and stakeholders
involved in this plan’s implementation.
Progress towards achieving the goals within each plan will be closely monitored, while stakeholders will
be kept informed through participation in plan strategies.
This edition incorporates strategies that respond to changes in local circumstances identified through
continuing community input or changing government priorities in regional Australia as well as access to
new data. The plans continue to be living and responsive documents that will be revisited throughout
their implementation to June 2014.
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan – Yorke and Mid North 4
www.deewr.gov.au/resj
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Regional Development Australia (RDA) Yorke and Mid North was formed on 1 February 2010 as a
partnership between the Australian and South Australian Governments and 11 local councils: Barunga
West, Clare and Gilbert Valley, Copper Coast, Goyder, Mt Remarkable, Northern Areas,
Orroroo/Carrieton, Peterborough, Port Pirie, Wakefield and Yorke Peninsula.
The Yorke and Mid North RDA region comprises sub regions of distinctive and quite different character
and geography. At its northern end, the region is bounded by the Spencer Gulf and to the east by the
scenic Southern Flinders Ranges. The major centre, Port Pirie, is located on Spencer Gulf approximately a
2 and a half hour drive north of Adelaide. Port Pirie has been the site of major mineral processing for
more than a century and is now developing as a centre for services and local tourism.
The towns of the Yorke Peninsula and the Copper Coast, with coastlines on both Spencer and St Vincent
Gulfs, are popular tourist destinations that can be reached in 2 to 3 hours by car from Adelaide. There is
a healthy fishing industry, aquaculture, cereal and livestock farming with the results of recent mining
exploration pointing to an industry of the future.
The Clare and Gilbert Valleys region, situated 90 minutes north of Adelaide, is a world renowned wine
region providing local employment and attracting tourism. The region has a rich agricultural base with
wheat, sheep and cattle. Further to the east, Burra and the Goyder region, is steeped in the mining and
pastoral history of South Australia. The region is still very active in mineral exploration and processing
but is a significant pastoral area and broad acre agricultural producer of wheat, barley and canola. The
region has established infrastructure for the generation of renewable energy through wind power.
Based on a comprehensive environmental scan and community consultation, the key education, skills
and jobs challenges identified for the region include:

maximising the opportunities for the local community to benefit from the mining and resources
sector investment and infrastructure projects

supporting the workforce development needs of local businesses and industry

improving employment outcomes particularly for youth, the long-term unemployed, people with
disability and Indigenous communities

improving school retention and attainment levels

increasing local opportunities for tertiary education.
The goals of the Regional Education, Skills and Jobs (RESJ) Plan are to:

achieve a coordinated and collaborative approach to exploring the opportunities emerging from
investment and infrastructure projects in the mining and resource sectors

increase opportunities for people experiencing disadvantage to undertake work experience

provide a range of entry pathways into the community services and health services sector across
the region

raise people’s awareness of the range of child care and/or preschool education options available
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan – Yorke and Mid North 5
www.deewr.gov.au/resj

increase Year 12 and equivalent attainment rates

increase Indigenous people’s awareness of State and Australian Government Indigenous
programs and initiatives

ensure young people are actively engaged in work, training and education or are linked with
relevant support services

improve literacy and numeracy levels across the region, with a particular focus on regional
workforce capability.
Port Augusta–Whyalla–Port Pirie is one of 20 priority employment areas across the country, and covers
Port Pirie and Peterborough Local Government Areas (LGAs) which also sit within the Yorke and Mid
North RDA region. A Local Employment Coordinator (LEC) has been appointed to focus on ensuring local
job seekers can access training and job opportunities as part of the Australian Government’s Building
Australia’s Future Workforce initiative. This RESJ Plan complements the goals and strategies in the LEC’s
Regional Employment Plan.
The region’s RDA Committee has developed a comprehensive Regional Roadmap that addresses
education, skill and employment opportunities. The roadmap focuses, in particular, on pre-employment
skills and mentoring. This RESJ Plan complements the existing goals and strategies in the RDA Plan.
Some outcomes achieved by the RESJ Coordinator in 2012 include:

Participating in the design and implementation of the Youth Exploring Potential (YEP) program in
Port Pirie and Peterborough in collaboration with the Local Employment Coordinator. YEP is a
service that is designed to meet the needs of young people and aims to engage with disengaged
young people who are not currently accessing existing programs and services. Outcomes will
include increasing school engagement and Year 12 equivalent attainment; exposure to
vocational training and work experience; capacity to engage with existing programs and
providers and the ability to address non vocational barriers At the end of 2012, 47 participants in
Port Pirie and 50 in Peterborough have been assisted to access existing programs and services
through the YEP.

Organising an Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Industry Workforce Roundtable in June
2012 in Port Augusta for Northern and Western South Australia. The roundtable was attended by
29 representatives from various governments, ECEC agencies and services, employment service
providers and education/training providers. Attendees were drawn from the Yorke and Mid
North, Eyre Peninsula and Far North regions who discussed a range of issues that affect
compliance with the National Quality Framework, recruitment and training. The Advanced
Diploma of Community Sector Management qualification is being delivered in Port Augusta and
Port Pirie as a result of the Roundtable and with the support and funding from the LEC. Thirty
training places will be made available for directors and leaders of local education and care
services across the priority employment area to develop the management skills of the sector.

Establishing a working group in December 2012 of local employment service and training
providers, state and Australian government representatives and RDA Yorke and Mid North to
address the issues surrounding literacy and numeracy for job seekers. The group has identified
options to implement more tailored and flexible training with literacy and numeracy
competencies relevant to future training and employment opportunities.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REGION
This section sets out the characteristics of the region identified through a comprehensive environmental
scan and local consultations. The information detailed in this section is not exhaustive of the
characteristics of the region, but provides an overview and insight to some of the challenges facing the
region.
To guide the RESJ Coordinator’s identification of issues and engagement with the community, various
data sets have supported the development of this plan. Data used in the development of this plan was
sourced from DEEWR, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and other relevant sources. Data referred
to may have been reformulated and was correct at time of drafting. Different data sets are refreshed at
different intervals, for example, unemployment rates are updated monthly for national and
state/territory figures and quarterly for regions.
Population
The 2011 ABS estimated resident population survey indicated that the Yorke and Mid North region has a
population of 74,249 people or about a quarter of South Australia’s regional population. The 2011
Census puts the population of the region’s largest population centre, the City of Port Pirie, at 13,819. The
next largest population centres, in order, are Kadina, Moonta and Clare, all in the range of 3000 to 4000
residents. The bulk of the remaining population of around 30,000 people is located outside the main
service centres in communities of fewer than 1000 people.
The RDA Yorke and Mid North aims to support a growth in population to 100,000 people by 2036 by
retaining young people, attracting `sea-changers’ and ‘tree-changers’, new workers entering existing and
emerging industries and maintaining the current workforce. Comparison of ABS data over time shows
that the population growth of the region has been modest, but growth in the Clare and Gilbert Valleys,
Copper Coast/Wakefield and Yorke Peninsula LGAs has been close to or higher than the state average. A
key feature for future planning is the increasing age profile of the region’s population. The 2011 ABS
Population by Age Survey indicated the proportion of the adult population aged 65 and older in the
region was well above the national average—21.46 per cent compared with 13.78 per cent for Australia
indicating that the peak demand for services and facilities for retirees in the region may occur sooner
than for other Australian communities.
According to the 2011 Census, approximately 2.2 per cent of the population in the Yorke and Mid North
region identified as Indigenous on Census night. The majority of the Indigenous population in the region
are located at Point Pearce, Maitland, the Copper Coast and Port Pirie. The land of the Yorke and Mid
North region has been home to the Kaurna, Narrunga, Ngadjuri, Meru, Danggali and Nukunu people for
thousands of years.
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan – Yorke and Mid North 8
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Early child education and care
The Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) measures young children’s development across five
domains: physical health and well-being; social competence; emotional maturity; school-based language
and cognitive skills; and general knowledge. The 2009 AEDI data indicated that at a national level,
23.6 per cent of children were vulnerable on one or more domain and 11.8 per cent were vulnerable on
two or more domains.
The AEDI found in the Yorke and Mid North RDA region, the communities of Clare and Gilbert Valleys,
Goyder and Northern Areas had the lowest proportions of vulnerable children for the region, less than
the national rates on both measures. However, the AEDI communities of Mt Remarkable/Orroroo/
Carrieton, Wakefield, and Yorke Peninsula had the highest proportions of vulnerable children—more
than the national averages on both measures.
Local stakeholders have expressed concerns about the apparent correlation between jobless families,
poor adult numeracy and literacy levels and early childhood development statistics.
Local stakeholders from across the region, including the business and community sectors, have raised
issues about child care through various forums, network meetings and consultations. Their concerns are
primarily about availability, accessibility and affordability across the region, including its more remote
areas. The region has 34 preschools. The issues raised regularly include:

shortage of working hours day care places (between 8 am and 6 pm), particularly in smaller
regional townships
 sessions are regulated to morning and afternoon, which does not meet the needs of part-time
workers whose hours are within school hours
 shortage of before and after school hours care
 reports by families who have not found their child care arrangements financially viable.
There is a need to continue up skilling existing child care workers and to promote pathways into the
sector through vocational education and training (VET) pathways to meet the standards of the
National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care.
School education
2011 Census data indicates that the proportion of the working age population in the Yorke and Mid
North region with a highest level of education of Year 12 or equivalent (28.3%) is less than
South Australia as a whole (44.8%) and Australia (49.2%). However, the proportion in the region with a
highest level of education of Year 10 and Year 11 is greater than that for South Australia, with the Yorke
and Mid North region recording 22.1 per cent and 22 per cent compared with of 16.7 per cent and
18.1 per cent respectively for South Australia. The Australian Government is providing $243.9 million for
a new National Partnership on Improving Literacy and Numeracy (ILNNP) to support participating schools
during the 2013 school year. The ILNNP aims to improve the outcomes of students, including students
from disadvantaged backgrounds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, who are falling
behind in literacy and numeracy.
The Smarter Schools National Partnership Agreement on Low Socio-economic Status School Communities
aims to transform the way schooling takes place in participating schools and addresses the complex
challenges facing students in disadvantaged communities. This is a joint initiative between the Australian
Government, the South Australian Government Department of Education, the Catholic Education Office
and the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia.
There are 64 schools in the region (including Reception – Year 12, primary and secondary) of which
40 schools are participating in either the ILLNP or are flagged as being in a Low Socio-economic Status
School Community. These schools are funded to explore innovative measures to improve learning
outcomes for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Central to these activities are partnerships with
parents, other schools and businesses.
The Trade Training Centres in Schools Program will provide $2.5 billion from 2008 to 2018 to enable
secondary schools across Australia to seek funding for Trade Training Centres. The Program allows
students from Years 9-12 to access vocational education and training through Trade Training Centres to
give them a broader range of options, to help improve Year 12 retention rates and enhance pathways
into vocational careers. Participating schools in the region are John Pirie Secondary School, Jamestown
Community School, Peterborough High School, Ardrossan Area School, Maitland Area School, Minlaton
District School, Snowtown Area School and Yorketown Area School.
Tertiary education and training
The proportion of the working age population in the Yorke and Mid North region who had attained a
post school qualification (32.94%) was below South Australia as a whole (41.71%) and Australia (44.39%).
The proportion of the population who attained a bachelor degree or higher (7.6%) is significantly lower
than the level for South Australia as a whole (15.8%) and Australia (18.6%).
These figures may reflect the limited higher education options available in the Yorke and Mid North
region for students pursuing university studies. Students either commute or relocate to Adelaide to
access the three main South Australian universities (University of Adelaide, University of South Australia
and Flinders University). There are strategies in this Plan to increase the numbers of people entering
tertiary education in the mining, community and health and teaching sectors within the region.
Streamlined vocational education pathways commencing in Years 10, 11 and 12 are being piloted and
incorporate tertiary education as another outcome for individuals.
VET resources in the region are limited to the regional centres, with a lack of critical mass for viable
training delivery, availability of trainers and transportation often presenting barriers to participation for
people living in the rural areas. The region hosts several TAFE SA campuses, Trade Training Centres and
community training venues. However, the provision of timely, cost-efficient responses to skills shortages
and industry demand is challenging. Whilst the training marketplace is competitive and is serviced by
both public and private registered training organisations, local networks have been discussing the need
for a more streamlined and targeted approach to developing and implementing training projects. The
South Australian Works planning process has indicated that this issue will be explored with stakeholders
and the broader community to inform its 2012–13 Strategic Plan.
Jobs, skills and workforce development
Employment in the Yorke Peninsula and Clare and Gilbert Valleys LGAs is heavily reliant on agricultural
industries. According to the 2011 Census, more than 20 per cent of the population in these LGAs work in
agriculture (mainly mixed cereal farming across both areas with viticulture being prominent in the
Clare Valley). By contrast, the major employing industries in the Port Pirie LGA are manufacturing
(11.8%), health care and social assistance (15.1%) and retail trade (12.7%).
Detailed employment data is available for the two DEEWR Employment Service Areas (ESAs) of Port Pirie
and Kadina-Clare that cover 10 of the 11 LGAs in the Yorke and Mid North RDA region. Mount
Remarkable LGA (population 3000) at the northern end of the RDA region, is the exception being part of
the DEEWR North Country ESA. A comparison of some of the key employment data for the two ESAs in
the table below shows the contrast in their labour market features. A greater proportion of the people
registered for Newstart Allowance in the Port Pirie ESA are experiencing long-term unemployment
(greater than 24 months duration) than in the Kadina-Clare ESA or in SA Country Labour Market Region
in total.
Table 1: Port Pirie and Kadina–Clare Employment Service Area data
South Australia
Port Pirie ESA
Kadina–Clare ESA
County Labour
Market Region
5.3%
3.9%
4.9%
42 months
33 months
33 months
Average job seeker age (December 2012)
36 years
39 years
37 years
% Newstart recipients registered with Centrelink
50.21%
41.12%
41.74%
1964
2925
21,903
Unemployment rate (September 2012)
Average job seeker duration of registration
(September 2012)
longer than 24 months (September 2012)
Number of people on a Disability Support Pension
(September 2012)
Source: DEEWR Small Area Labour Markets September quarter 2012; DEEWR Administrative Data, December 2012; Centrelink
Administrative Data, September 2012
Generally, people with disability experience higher rates of unemployment and lower levels of workforce
participation. They are more likely to prosper where there is some flexibility to customise the job
opportunity to fit their capabilities and their capacity to work. Job seekers with disability have less choice
where there is a narrow range of industries and/or sectors in the region where they live. There are a
number of people living in the Yorke and Mid North region on a Disability Support Pension, 1964 in the
Port Pirie ESA and 2925 in Kadina-Clare ESA. Stakeholders report that there are opportunities for the
disability employment service sector in the region to promote the advantages of recruiting people with
disability to industry and business for work experience and paid employment. Both the Australian and
State Government have a range of resources and tools that can be better utilised and promoted to the
broader community to assist in breaking down barriers to increase engagement and social and economic
participation for people with disability.
The high levels of jobless families and low levels of educational attainment in parts of the Yorke and Mid
North region are factors that contribute to overall disadvantage in those areas. The communities in
Peterborough and Port Pirie were identified as part of a DEEWR priority employment area initiative as
requiring additional assistance to help address local labour market and social inclusion issues have been
supported by a DEEWR Local Employment Coordinator since 2009.
Providers of employment and career development services, the Port Pirie Chamber of Commerce, local
industry representatives and Centrelink in the Yorke and Mid North Region report that local job seekers
have lower than the required levels of numeracy and literacy for jobs in the region and also frequently
lack the ‘soft’ employability skills necessary to succeed in the workplace.
Other characteristics
South Australian RDA Committees and Boards are supported to achieve their skills, education and
employment goals through the Skills for All in Regions Program funded by the South Australian
Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology. The Skills for All in Regions
Coordinator and one or more Workforce Development Officers work closely with their local networks to
build skills and pathways into training and employment. The Skills for All in Regions Network is a key local
forum for representatives from employment and community services, training organisations, industry
and business and a range of government agencies to discuss economic and social issues.
The development of a skilled workforce is crucial in meeting the needs of the region’s expanding mining
and resources sector, and in replacing skilled workers who have been attracted away from local
industries by higher wages. A number of large and small companies are engaged in exploration activity
across the region, with mine projects under development outside Peterborough, the Braemar Iron
Formation, and at sites on the Yorke Peninsula. Beyond the region to the north are several mining
projects that may evolve into future opportunities for Yorke Peninsula and Mid North and East
businesses and residents. This could include local businesses winning contracts in the construction
phase, materials being fabricated locally and employment opportunities with large mining operations to
the north of the state.
Large-scale mine operations outside the region are located in the nearby Upper Spencer Gulf region near
Whyalla, and in the north of the state at Prominent Hill, Roxby Downs and Olympic Dam among other
sites. Job and training opportunities are expected to be created for local support services and suppliers in
the region for contractors working in the mining and resources industry. The region is keen to ensure
that its training and employment services have the capacity and capability to support local people to
access these opportunities. The Yorke and Mid North RESJ Plan identifies issues, goals and strategies to
support the development of a skilled regional workforce.
ISSUES, GOALS AND STRATEGIES
This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation. It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the community’s objectives. The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Yorke and Mid
North RDA region.
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only. Both may vary over time
and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement.
The four key themes of the Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plans initiative are:

Early childhood education and care

School education

Tertiary education and training

Jobs, skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the
region. They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above.
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan – Yorke and Mid North 13
www.deewr.gov.au/resj
Issue 1
The availability of suitable, accessible early childhood education
and child care options across the region.
Goal:
All people needing to access child care and/or pre-school education are aware of
the range of options available to them.
Theme(s):
Early childhood education and care; School education; Tertiary education and
training; Jobs, skills and workforce development.
Strategies
Stakeholders
Programs






Work with the SA Department for Education and
Child Development (DECD) and providers of preschool education and family day care and users of
child care services to gain an accurate picture of the
balance of supply and demand for child care and
early childhood education across the region.
Promote the use of mychild.gov.au to inform
parents of availability of childcare places.
Promote the range of Australian Government
funded initiatives to attract more educators into
the sector and to support the up skilling of existing
workers.
Liaise with Job Service Australia (JSA) and Disability
Employment (DES) providers to disseminate
information regarding childcare options available to
job seekers within the region.






Centre-based care,
family day care, inhome care and out of
school hours care
providers
DECD (SA)
Department of
Human Services
(Centrelink)
DES providers
Early childhood
education and care
services providers
JSA providers
RDA Yorke and Mid
North




Australian
Government Skills
Connect
DES
Indigenous
Employment Program
JSA
Skills for All in Regions
(SA Government)
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan – Yorke and Mid North 14
www.deewr.gov.au/resj
Issue 2
Improve the participation in education, skills development and
employment opportunities in the region’s Aboriginal
communities.
Goal:
Increase the awareness of available programs and funding streams that could be
accessed to enhance existing programs delivered through local, State and
Australian Government initiatives.
Theme(s):
Early childhood education and care; School education; Tertiary education and
training; Jobs, skills and workforce development.
Strategies
Stakeholders
Programs






Work with the Local Employment Coordinator
(LEC), Skills for All in Regions Coordinator,
Centrelink and Job Services Australia (JSA) and
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers to
inform and connect them with opportunities
available through existing programs and funding
streams.
In collaboration with Skills for All in Regions, the SA
Department of Further Education, Employment,
Science and Technology (DFEEST) and the LEC,
promote the tailored and refined Building Family
Opportunities program to be offered in
Peterborough and Port Pirie.
Gather and share evidence of best practice in
education and employment programs and services
in regional and remote Aboriginal communities in
South Australia.
Engage with the Port Pirie Aboriginal Community
Centre to facilitate a forum for providers in the
region to engage with the Aboriginal community.









Department for
Education and Child
Development (SA)
Department of
Human Services
(Centrelink)
DES providers
DFEEST
Indigenous Economic
Development Officer
for Yorke and Mid
North region
Indigenous
Employment Brokers
JSA providers
LEC
RDA Yorke and Mid
North
Skills for All in Regions
Coordinator





Building Family
Opportunities
program
DES
Indigenous
Employment Program
JSA
Parental and
Community
Engagement Program
Skills for All in Regions
(SA Government)
Issue 3
Improve Year 12 and equivalent attainment across the region.
Goal:
Improve the region’s rate of Year 12 or equivalent attainment.
Theme(s):
School education; Tertiary education and training; Jobs, skills and workforce
development.
Strategies
Stakeholders
Programs





Work with schools, Trade Training Centres (TTCs),
registered training organisations, Australian
Apprenticeship Centres, employers and industry
promoting the value of School-based
Apprenticeships and Traineeships.
Promote tertiary programs encouraging young
people to take up mathematics and science
subjects in Years 11 and 12 to move into tertiary
education.
In collaboration with Skills for All in Regions and the
Local Employment Coordinator (LEC), utilise the
Advantage SA Speakers in Schools program to
educate communities about careers that sit within
the skills shortage areas of the region.














Association of
Independent Schools
SA
Australian
Apprenticeships
Centres
Catholic Education SA
Department for
Education and Child
Development (SA)
Employers and
Industry
Industry Skills Brokers
Innovative
Community Action
Networks
LEC
Registered training
organisations
Skills for All in Regions
Coordinator
School Business
Community
Partnership Brokers
Schools
TTCs
VET Coordinators
Youth Connections
provider


Advantage SA
Speakers in Schools
program
School-based
Apprenticeships and
Traineeships
Skills for All in Regions
(SA Government)
Issue 4
Lower the high rates of youth unemployment and disengaged
youth.
Goal:
Young people are actively engaged in work, training and education or are linked
with relevant support services.
Theme(s):
School education; Tertiary education and training; Jobs, skills and workforce
development.
Strategies
Stakeholders
Programs







Work with the Youth Sector Network, Local
Employment Coordinator (LEC), Skills for All in
Regions, School Business Community Partnership
Broker, youth service providers, Job Services
Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Service
(DES) providers, SA Department for Education and
Child Development (DECD) and Innovative
Community Action Networks (ICAN) to map existing
youth services and programs.
Through the Pirie Education and Skills Working
Group collaborate to introduce the Youth
Engagement Program to support existing programs.
Extend strategies to create pathways from school to
work to connect unemployed young people to
opportunities in the region.












DECD (SA)
Department of
Further Education,
Employment, Science
and Technology (SA)
DES providers
ICANs
JSA providers
LEC
Pirie Education and
Skills Working Group
RDA Yorke and Mid
North
School Business
Community
Partnership Broker
Schools
Skills for All in Regions
Coordinator
Youth Connections
provider
Youth Sector Network
Youth service
providers



DES
Indigenous
Employment Program
JSA
Skills for All in Regions
(SA Government)
Youth Engagement
Program
Issue 5
Low levels of literacy and numeracy impact on individuals’
capacity to participate in education, skills development and
employment.
Goal:
Improved literacy and numeracy levels across the region with a particular focus
on regional workforce capability.
Theme(s):
School education; Tertiary education and training; Jobs, skills and workforce
development.
Strategies
Stakeholders
Programs






Work with Skills for All in Regions and Skills for
Education and Employment (SEE) formerly
Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program
providers to develop pre-employment and
orientation courses tailored for local existing and
emerging industries (e.g. meat works industry).
Consider adapting model to other sectors such as
the community and allied health services sector.
Promote the Workplace English Language and
Literacy (WELL) program to industry as a strategy to
skill their workforce.
Replicate best practice mentoring models across
the region such as the Language, Literacy and
Numeracy One to One Mentoring Program funded
through Skills for All in Regions.
Establish a working group including TAFE SA, local
providers of employment services, Department of
Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science,
Research and Tertiary Education, Department of
Human Services, state government, Local
Employment Coordinator, RDA Committee and RESJ
Coordinator. The working group will aim to
understand the issues facing highly disadvantaged
groups in the region and to establish a best practice
local service delivery model.









Community
organisations
Department of
Further Education,
Employment, Science
and Technology (SA)
Department of
Human Services
(Centrelink)
Department of
Industry, Innovation,
Climate Change,
Science, Research and
Tertiary Education
Disability Employment
Service (DES)
providers
Industry peak bodies
and individual
enterprises
Job Services Australia
(JSA) providers
SEE providers
Skills for All in Regions
Coordinator
TAFE SA and other
registered training
organisations






Adult and Community
Education
DES
Indigenous
Employment Program
JSA
SEE
Skills for All in Regions
(SA Government)
WELL
Issue 6
Lack of suitably trained job seekers and experienced workers to
fill existing vacancies within the community services and health
services sector across the region.
Goal:
To provide a range of pathways into sectors which offer an array of employment
opportunities. Sectors include: youth, disability, aged, mental health, counselling,
emergency accommodation, financial, relationship, domestic violence, children’s
services and child care, allied health, nursing, fitness, employment services and
home care services.
Theme(s):
School education; Tertiary education and training; Jobs, skills and workforce
development.
Strategies
Stakeholders
Programs





Develop of a regional network of community and
health services to assist members with workforce
development and other identified issues. An initial
working group comprising the Local Employment
Coordinator, Skills for All in Regions Coordinators
(Yorke and Mid North and Far North) and
committed human resources managers or
recruiters representing the sector will collaborate
to:
o develop a web-based ‘research tool’ to
overcome the geographical barriers to gather
information that will build an accurate picture
of the sector’s current workforce development
issues
o gather support for the establishment of a
regional network and its primary purpose.
Work with John Pirie Secondary School and Country
Health SA to implement and evaluate the VET
Health Services program being delivered through
John Pirie Secondary School.
Support the establishment of a work experience
coordinator for the health and community service
sector to coordinate work experience placements
and explore employment and further education at a
tertiary level.












Association of Health
Promotion Australia
SA Branch
Department of
Further Education,
Employment, Science
and Technology (SA)
Department of Health
and Ageing
Department of
Industry, Innovation,
Climate Change,
Science, Research and
Tertiary Education
Disability Employment
Service (DES)
providers
Health Workforce
Australia
Job Services Australia
(JSA) providers
John Pirie Secondary
School
Local Employment
Coordinator
Non-government
organisations
Providers of tertiary
education
South Australian
Council of Social
Services
State Government
funded health
department and
services




Australian
Government Skills
Connect
DES
Indigenous
Employment Program
JSA
Skills for All in Regions
(SA Government)
Issue 7
Support local industry and employers to provide work
experience opportunities.
Goal:
Job seekers and students from all cohorts will have an opportunity to participate
in work experience activities linked to skills training that will prepare them for
ongoing paid employment.
Theme(s):
School education; Tertiary education and training; Jobs, skills and workforce
development.
Strategies
Stakeholders
Programs







Facilitate partnerships with Job Services Australia
(JSA) and Disability Employment Service (DES)
providers, Department for Education and Child
Development (DECD), local government and other
potential not for profit employers/sponsors to
develop a range of long-term projects providing
work experience activities for job seekers and
students.
Establish a working group to promote the use of
Work Experience programs that are currently
offered through JSA and DES providers.
Work with Port Pirie Regional Council and other
local councils and JSA and DES providers to provide
job seekers with opportunities to engage in city
beautification projects that promote a range of
options through various funding sources (Work for
the Dole, Arts Council) that focus on the
development of a range of skills.










DECD (SA)
Department of
Further Education,
Employment, Science
and Technology (SA)
Department of
Human Services
(Centrelink)
DES providers
Industry Skills Brokers
JSA providers
Not for profit
organisations,
including health and
community care
employers
Port Pirie Chamber of
Commerce
Port Pirie Regional
Council and 11 local
councils in this region
TAFE SA and other
registered training
organisations
VET Coordinators
Volunteering SA


DES
Indigenous
Employment Program
JSA
Skills for All in Regions
(SA Government)
Issue 8
Maximise the opportunities for the local community to benefit
from the investment in the mining and resources sector.
Goal:
The Yorke and Mid North Region is well positioned to maximise the benefits of
the mining and resources investment in South Australia.
Theme(s):
School education; Tertiary education and training; Jobs, skills and workforce
development.
Strategies
Stakeholders
Programs








Work with existing networks and committees
across the region, schools, Trade Training Centres
(TTCs) and the Resources and Energy Program to
develop, refine and implement a ‘pipeline’ model
that can be implemented across schools in the
region to provide skills and training leading to
employment in mining and associated industries.
Collaborate to link industry and business to
initiatives funded through Australian Government
Skills Connect.
Liaise with the local School Business Community
Partnership Broker about the success of the
Engineering Mining Academy being piloted in the
Mid North region.
Explore possible innovative programs that offer onsite tertiary programs with industry and providers
of tertiary education.
Through participation on the Port Pirie Planning
Group, remain informed of, and support where
possible, major infrastructure projects of the
region, including the following proposed projects:
o upgrade of the Port Pirie airstrip to
accommodate Fly-In Fly-Out workers
o duplication of the gas pipeline
o expansion and upgrade of the port
o support for the development of a mining
school.















Advantage SA
Chamber of
Commerce
Department for
Education and Child
Development (SA)
Department of
Further Education,
Employment, Science
and Technology (SA)
Department of
Industry, Innovation,
Climate Change,
Science, Research and
Tertiary Education
Disability Employment
Service (DES)
providers
Group training
organisations
Indigenous
Employment Program
panel members
industries servicing/
supplying mining and
associated industries
Job Services Australia
(JSA) providers
Local Employment
Coordinator
Mining, exploration
and construction
companies
RDA Yorke and Mid
North
School Business
Community
Partnership Broker
Schools
Tertiary education
providers
TTCs





Australian
Government Skills
Connect
DES
Indigenous
Employment Program
JSA
Resources and Energy
Program (SA
Government)
Skills for All in Regions
(SA Government)
APPENDICES
Appendix A — Stakeholders
Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan, listed by sector.
Sector
Stakeholder
Local government
Councils of Barunga West; Clare and Gilbert Valley; Copper Coast; Goyder; Mt
Remarkable; Northern Areas; Orroroo/Carrieton; Peterborough; Port Pirie;
Wakefield; Yorke Peninsula.
State government
Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology;
Department for Education and Child Development.
Australian Government
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs;
Department of Human Services - Centrelink; Department of Industry,
Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education.
Education
Regional Director Education Yorke and Mid North; Department for Education
and Child Development.
Vocational Education and
Training
TAFE SA Regional; private registered training organisations.
Higher education
University of South Australia – Whyalla Campus.
Youth
School Business Community Partnership Brokers; Youth Connections providers;
Innovative Community Action Network; Port Pirie Youth Sector Network.
Employment
Local Employment Coordinator; Job Services Australia providers; Disability
Employment Service providers; South Australian Works Network; South
Australian Works Regional Coordinator.
Indigenous organisations
Point Pearce Aboriginal Community; Port Pirie Aboriginal Resource Centre.
Regional development
Regional Development Australia Yorke and Mid North.
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan – Yorke and Mid North 22
www.deewr.gov.au/resj
Appendix B — Existing related plans and strategies
This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have:

influenced the direction of this RESJ Plan

have complementary goals and strategies and/or

have significance in the region in relation to education, skills and jobs.
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes.
Plan or strategy
Impact on RESJ Plan
Regional Development Australia
(RDA) – Yorke and Mid North
Regional Roadmap
The RDA Yorke and Mid North
Regional Roadmap articulates the
framework within which RDA
Yorke and Mid North works: the
regional context, the strategic
context and the global
opportunities which frame and
inform the strategic and annual
plans of RDA Yorke and Mid North.
Port Pirie and Peterborough fall
within the Port Augusta–Whyalla–
Port Pirie priority employment
area, one of 20 across the country.
In each area, a Local Employment
Coordinator has been appointed to
work with local stakeholders to
identify labour market goals that
are specific to the needs of the
community. This consultation with
stakeholders has informed the
content of a Regional Employment
Plan for the area.
Priority Employment Area initiative
– Port Augusta-Whyalla-Port Pirie
Regional Employment Plan
How it can be
used/linked/expanded
The goals and strategies of the
RESJ Plan complement those
included in the RDA Yorke and Mid
North Regional Roadmap.
The RESJ Plan is consistent with
the following goals of the Regional
Employment Plan – Port AugustaWhyalla-Port Pirie (as they relate
to the City of Port Pirie and
Peterborough):
 supporting employment,
workforce participation and
skills development, including
through maximising
government investment
 helping retrenched workers
transition into new employment
and training
 facilitating employment and
training opportunities for job
seekers, including
disadvantaged groups, with a
focus on industries that are
experiencing skills shortages
 facilitating opportunities for
employment in new, emerging
and growth industries
 developing industry and
stakeholder partnerships to
increase employment and
training participation.
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan – Yorke and Mid North 23
www.deewr.gov.au/resj
Plan or strategy
Impact on RESJ Plan
Local government strategic plans
Local governments in the region
publish strategic plans that address
community and economic
development needs.
This is a Department of Further
Education, Employment, Science
and Technology (DFEEST) funded
whole-of-state program that
specifically addresses issues
regarding skilling of disadvantaged
unemployed or underemployed
job seekers for local jobs.
South Australia Works in the
Regions
Adult Community Education
Program
The Adult Community Education
(ACE) Program funds introductory
contextualised literacy and
numeracy training through
approved community not-forprofit organisations.
How it can be
used/linked/expanded
The RESJ Plan supports these
strategies.
The DFEEST Skills for All in Regions
Coordinators and local staff are a
valuable resource in identifying
and developing employment and
other opportunities for long term
unemployed or otherwise
disadvantaged job seekers. This
program complements the
Employment Pathway Fund (EPF)
that is administered by Job
Services Australia providers to
assist their clients into
employment. It offers particular
assistance to people who have
limited or no access to the EPF..
The ACE Program focuses on the
delivery of pre-vocational skills
including language, literacy,
numeracy, problem solving and
computer skills in a community
setting. ACE plays an important
role in providing foundation skills
and a bridge to further study. It
provides a pathway for learners to
move into higher levels of training,
including to participation in the
Language, Literacy and Numeracy
Program and Workplace English
Language and Literacy programs.
Plan or strategy
Impact on RESJ Plan
Innovative Community Action
Networks (ICANs)
ICANs are a Department for
Education and Child Development
initiative that brings together
young people, families, schools,
community groups, businesses and
different levels of government to
find solutions to local issues that
prevent young people from
completing their education. ICANs
are a key part of the Making the
Connections, School Retention
Action Plan, a social inclusion
initiative.
ICANs are targeting young people,
from Year 6 to those 19 years of
age who are enrolled in school but
at risk of early leaving, disengaging
and/or not re-engaging to a
pathway to employment, further
education or community
participation, or a combination of
these.
Skills for All provides funding for
skills training (qualifications and
skills sets) up to advanced diploma
level for all South Australians over
the age of 16.
The VET in South Australia
Certificate of Education (SACE)
component of this program will
fund VET qualifications within
schools and the Skills in the
Workplace component partly
funds skills training for industry
and is a complementary program
to the National Workforce
Development Fund.
Skills for All / Skills in the
Workplace
How it can be
used/linked/expanded
The RESJ Plan is consistent with
the aims/objectives of the ICANs
initiative, particularly in relation to
youth transitions and retention
strategies. Further, the ICANs
program is regarded as:
 an essential element of the
school education system as it
addresses the needs of
disengaged students, forming
the crucial link between
education and employment;
and
 an integral component of interagency youth and community
support networks.
The RESJ Plan is consistent with
the aims/objectives of the Skills for
All initiative. Further, it provides:
 an opportunity for third parties
such as Job Service Australia
providers to aggregate industry
and client needs and broker
local delivery of required skills
training
 the potential to broker direct
skills training and fund
workforce development
activities to maximise skills and
productivity outcomes across a
range of business/industry
sectors.
Plan or strategy
Impact on RESJ Plan
SA Department for Education and
Child Development (DECD)
formerly Department of Education
and Children’s Services (DECS)
DECD is responsible for services
and outcomes in :
 early childhood education
development
 services for children
 Year 1 to 7 schools
 Year 8-12 schools and
transitions.
The South Australia Government’s
SA Strategic Plan includes a
number of targets for learning and
education for which DECD is
accountable. These include targets
under a number of National
Partnerships.
How it can be
used/linked/expanded
The RESJ Plan is consistent with
the following targets that are
components of DECD’s
contribution to the SA Strategic
Plan and were last reported in
DECS Annual Report for 2010.
 increased literacy/numeracy
proficiency
 increased proportion of 15–19
year olds who achieve South
Australian Certificate of
Education (SACE) or equivalent
qualifications and progress to
employment,
apprenticeship/traineeships,
further education or other
affirmative post-school options
 increased proportion of
students achieving a tertiary
entrance rank in mathematics
and science subjects.
Further, DECD administers a series
of complementary programs in the
region for senior secondary
students:
 Industry Skills Program—
establishes Industry Pathways
Programs, incorporating high
levels of VET and industry
engagement to meet industry
needs and address skills
shortages
 Resources and Energy
Program—utilises VET units,
school-based apprenticeships
and Industry Pathways
Programs to provide
employment pathways into
trades and professions
 Trade Schools for the Future—
enable students to combine
SACE studies with VET training
via school-based
apprenticeships or traineeships,
creating genuine career
pathways and motivated,
trained and work-ready
employees.
Plan or strategy
Impact on RESJ Plan
Resources and Engineering Skills
Alliance (RESA)
RESA was established in 2007 to
collaborate between industry and
the South Australia Government as
a strategic response to skills
shortages in the resources sector.
In conjunction with key
stakeholders, RESA addresses:
 skills and training needs
 workforce planning
 workforce development
 retention strategies, and
 advocacy for the resources
sector.
RESA also completes research,
contributes to policy development
and facilitates, brokers and
manages the delivery of projects to
increase the number of skilled
people in the sector.
RESA provides information and
data on the current and projected
workforce requirements of the
state’s resources sector, aiming to
position the state to maximise the
economic and social dividends
afforded by the mining/resources
industry investment.
The School Business Community
Partnership Brokers program is
focused on building partnerships
to support young people to attain
Year 12 (or equivalent) and reach
their full educational and social
potential.
School Business Community
Partnership Brokers
How it can be
used/linked/expanded
The RESJ Plan is consistent with
the content and the
recommendations of RESA’s
Resources Industry Workforce
Action Plan South Australia 20102014. The Action Plan:
 outlines a comprehensive
approach to workforce
development in the resources
sector, involving
business/industry, government,
training providers and support
agencies such as RESA and
South Australian Chamber of
Mines and Energy
 provides specific information on
projected workforce needs,
including occupations and
training and qualification
requirements.
The RESJ Plan supports the work of
the region’s Partnerships Brokers:
 by fostering a strategic, wholeof-community approach to
improving education and
transition outcomes for all
young people
 by creating new (and enhancing
existing) partnerships between
and among four key stakeholder
groups: education and training
providers, business and
industry, parents and families
and community groups
 by complementing the
identified priority areas of
Youth Transitions, Mentoring,
Career Development and Skills
Training, as stated in the
Brokers’ Environmental Scans of
the region.
ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviation
Full Term
ABS
Australian Bureau of Statistics
ACE
Adult Community Education
AEDI
Australian Early Development Index
DECD
Department for Education and Child Development (SA)
DECS
Department of Education and Children’s Services
DEEWR
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
DES
Disability Employment Services
DFEEST
Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (SA)
ECEC
Early childhood education and care
EPF
Employment Pathway Fund
ESA
Employment Service Area
ICANs
Innovative Community Action Networks
ILLNP
Improving Literacy and Numeracy
JSA
Job Services Australia
LEC
Local Employment Coordinator
LGA
Local Government Area
RDA
Regional Development Australia
RESA
Resources and Engineering Skills Alliance
RESJ
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs
SACE
South Australia Certificate of Education
SEE
Skills for Education and Employment
TTC
Trade Training Centres
VET
Vocational education and training
WELL
Workplace English Language and Literacy
YEP
Youth Exploring Potential
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan – Yorke and Mid North 28
www.deewr.gov.au/resj