MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Billson
Australia will provide more than $14 million to empower youth in Vanuatu through improved technical and vocational education and training, the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Bruce Billson, announced today on International Youth Day.
'Youth training is critical for the future of all countries and Australia's contribution over six years for the Vanuatu Technical and Vocational Education and Training Program (TVET) will help create job opportunities for young people and alleviate poverty,' Mr Billson said.
'Vanuatu is one of the world's least developed countries, with most jobseekers facing unemployment or a subsistence lifestyle and the TVET will help increase skills training in areas of greatest importance to Vanuatu's development.
'In the first two years, more than 600 disadvantaged provincial students will receive support focused on strengthening skills training for rural and provincial development. This is a significant investment in the importance of young people and their crucial role in the future of the community,' Mr Billson said.
'The Australian Government's aid agency, AusAID, will implement the program which builds on eight years of assistance to the Vanuatu Institute of Technology and enhances the Vanuatu Government's training priorities and existing structures, materials and systems.
'The project will be supported by eight Australian advisers working in Vanuatu, including two Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development, who are part of a much larger group of passionate and dedicated young Australians making a difference to those in need abroad,' Mr Billson said.
'TVET follows on from the recently announced Australia-Vanuatu Joint Development Cooperation Strategy for 2005 - 2010 and meets a key objective of improving service delivery to populations in greatest hardship, particularly in rural and urban settlements.
'The Australian Government is committed to working closely with the Vanuatu Government and in 2005-06 will provide $34.1 million in aid to help contribute to a prosperous and stable Vanuatu,' Mr Billson said.
Media inquiries:
Shane Fairlie (Mr Billson's office) 0408 680 442
AusAID (Public Affairs) 0417 680 590