Speeches
Thursday, 13 November 2025
Apprentice Employment Network SA Gala Dinner
As Patron of the Apprentice Employment Network SA, I am pleased to join you for this Gala Dinner and to celebrate the Group Training Organisations and the apprentices and trainees who are building South Australia's future.
As I travel across South Australia with Rod, we witness first-hand the vital role apprentices and trainees play in every corner of our state: from advanced manufacturing and defence projects to renewable energy, aged care, and the construction of the homes we so urgently need.
We were pleased recently to host a reception for the 2025 WorldSkills Team SA, celebrating the fact that South Australia sent its largest-ever team of 63 competitors to the National Championship in Brisbane, and with impressive results: three gold medals, seven silver, six bronze, and twelve Certificates of Excellence.
These achievements reflect the depth of apprentice talent we have here in South Australia, and how well we are doing as a state in supporting this talent to reach its potential.
One WorldSkills award winner told me the opportunity to compete had been "life changing”, a testament to the impact that quality training, dedicated mentorship, and genuine opportunity can have on a young person's trajectory.
Last month I was also pleased to present a SafeWork SA Augusta Zadow Award grant to the Apprentice Employment Network SA, which will enable members and their host employers to access upgraded SMART Kit solutions for workplace health and safety.
This is an important investment in keeping apprentices safe as they begin their careers.
I note that in the twelve months to March this year, more than 9,200 South Australians started an apprenticeship or traineeship.
This marked the largest increase across Australian states and territories and is a deeply encouraging sign for our state’s future.
The demand for skilled workers in South Australia has never been greater, and the opportunities available for ambitious and hardworking apprentices and trainees are many and varied: from the Torrens to Darlington project and the rollout of three-year-old preschool, to building more homes and delivering AUKUS.
I thank the members of the Apprentice Employment Network SA for employing over 4,000 apprentices and trainees across our state, and for its remarkable achievement in leading the nation in Group Training Organisation market share at seventeen per cent.
To the award finalists and winners who will be announced shortly, I congratulate you on your dedication, skill, and commitment to excellence in your chosen fields.
You are not simply learning a trade - you are gaining skills for life, building pathways to meaningful careers, and contributing to a future that South Australia is proud to invest in.
To the Field Officers, host employers, trainers, and all who support these young South Australians in their journey, I thank you for the important contribution you make to our state's prosperity and resilience.
Please enjoy this evening's celebration of apprentice talent, and know that by in investing in training, we are all investing in the future South Australia deserves.