Skills Shortages and Lack of Money?

I have seen some really interesting things happen in this country that appear one day in the press and then somehow, die, never to be mentioned again. Take for example the brilliant idea that someone in a TAFE had in Western Australia.

Somehow they recognised that they were training people in business and in the building and related trades and who needed experience. They approached the Australian Defence Forces with an idea. The idea was simple, the military needed housing and had funding for this available to them. The students needed practical knowledge about how to do the work they were being trained to do. So what if, under strict supervision, they were to build the properties required by the military?

There was no doubt considerable discussion, but eventually it was agreed, the students would build the houses. The project would be managed entirely by the students in the TAFE under the supervision of their teachers. The houses were built.

What was the result? Wonderful new housing for military families and a group of students who had not only learnt their trades, how to run a business, how to manage projects, how to manage the accounts, how to build houses, to equip them with roofs, plumbing, electrical connections etc.. but also made a contribution to the community through their work.

The taxpayers were happy in that they got the best value for money that could be obtained. The military were happy as they managed to get fine housing and at a price that was better than they could get elsewhere. The people in the TAFE were happy as with the funding obtained through the project they were able to provide genuine work experience for their students that they would otherwise have been unable to afford to do.

Why did this innovative program cease? Why have we heard nothing about similar programs in the rest of Australia?

Just imagine what it would be like if we had students all around the country putting their learning into practice to undertake some of those jobs that are considered 'too expensive' by local councils or State governments, jobs that would create a better life experience for the people in the community.

Everyone would benefit and no one would be worse off. Certainly tradesmen would not be worse off - they would not have been able to undertake the work - as there was not enough money available to pay them to do the work. The community would be better off having some additional facilities which would otherwise have remained on drawing boards. The industry would be better off because it had new graduates of courses that had not only academic training but also some real practical experience. The students would be better off because they could point to their real achievements in their CVs and so enhance their opportunities for work upon graduation.

Surely someone in authority can see the benefits that are to be derived for all concerned from similar schemes? So why do we not have them around the country?