In response to the Federal training incentive program’s changes, Bridget Gardner of Fresh Green Clean has requested we unite as an industry to conduct a nation-wide industry survey in our fight against training funding cuts. Her missive follows…

As you may be aware, the Commonwealth Government has recently made significant cuts to cleaning training incentive payments. These changes make it almost impossible for cleaning companies to afford to train workers, especially part-timers with less than 21 hours per week.

We are very concerned that this will have a profoundly negative effect on worker’s skill levels and increase the health and safety risk of this sector.

It is vitally important that the cleaning industry joins forces to lobby the Government before May 2013, as other competing sectors have already done.

We have been advised that the Government is now only targeting funding to sectors that add to the economy. We must demonstrate that cleaner training is a good investment by providing a valuable skills pathway and an important entry point for low skilled and/or new migrant workers, thereby adding to the general skills and productivity of the country.

To do this we need cost modelling as well as case studies of ex-cleaners who have used their training as a pathway to other industries.

I propose that we need to conduct a nation-wide survey to gather such data and to build a strong argument in defence of retaining training incentive funds.

Please let me know if you could offer suggestions or support this initiative, in terms of funding and providing expertise to construct, manage and collate data from a survey, then forming a lobby group. Time is very tight. Money is even tighter!

Please contact Bridget Gardner if you can help at bridget@freshgreenclean.com.au