Defence Support Industries Project Launched

Member for Solomon, David Tollner MP today launched a project that is aimed at further improving management skills in the Northern Territory defence support industry through five courses and workshops in Darwin and Katherine.

The project - Defence Education & Learning: Managing & Understanding the Provision Of Industry Support For Defence - will be run by the Australian Industry Defence Network - Northern Territory, an industry body for small to medium-size business engaged in the defence sector.
"It focuses on helping local businesses gain more access to defence industry information, resources and key decision-makers to optimise business engagement and success in the defence sector,” Mr Tollner said.

Mr Tollner said the Australian Industry Defence Network - Northern Territory received a $140,650 Australian Government grant from the Building Entrepreneurship in Small Business program to deliver the skills development workshops.

"Each course and workshop will have about 45 participants. The first provides basic knowledge of project management, and the second introduces participants to relevant documents and how to analyse and breakdown these documents,” Mr Tollner said.

"The third demonstrates how to engage with defence contractors, and monitor progress through the tendering phase. This will be delivered as one three-hour evening session, with participants broken up into four groups of about 12.”

Mr Tollner said the fourth course and workshop is structured to assist companies understand future national defence projects, and demands of local industry if they are to participate.

"Information will be developed using defence-related documents and participants will estimate the cost of a specific project that is relevant to the individual.”

"The estimate will become the project that will be covered in the accredited project management course.

"And finally, each participant will be able to undertake a Cert IV or Diploma course in project management. The project management courses are accredited and recognised nationally, and will be delivered by face-to-face group mentoring and online.

"While initial mentoring is expected to be staggered over 10 days, the course duration is for 12 months, and includes a real project where participants will be required to prove their knowledge in order to receive accreditation.”

Mr Tollner represented the Minister for Small Business and Tourism, Fran Bailey at the function, and presented the Australian Industry Defence Network - Northern Territory representatives with an AusIndustry certificate in recognition of their support for small businesses in the region.

"There are about 1.88 million small businesses currently operating in Australia and almost 40 per cent are located in regional and remote areas. They generate an estimated 39 per cent of Australia's economic capacity,” Mr Tollner said.

The Australian Government's Building Entrepreneurship in Small Business program provides funding typically from $100,000 to $300,000 to service providers in the areas of business skills training, as well as mentoring and succession planning.

2007-08-28