‘Australia needs quality workforce like Negrenses’

THE Australian government, particularly the Northern Territory, has high regards on the mobility skills, particularly on working capabilities, of Negrense professionals.

Philippine Consul General of Northern Territory Australia Januario Rivas, who was in the province recently, said there are so many qualities that Filipinos at large posses.

Rivas, who grew up in Negros Occidental, cited resilience and high ability to improve as among these qualities of the local workforce.

“Negrenses, Filipinos in general, are adaptable and resourceful people,” he said, adding that “they don’t have any issue with the language.”

The Australian official led the graduation rites for 30 Negrense professionals who finished the Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) Program last week.

The graduates completed the training on TAE Assessors Skill Set training, Certificate II in Business, and Certificate III in Individual Support.

The program is a joint initiative of the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental and the Northern Territory Australia.

This is part of the five-year partnership forged by the province with the Department of Education of the Northern Territory Australia.

Rivas earlier told Sunstar Bacolod they are looking at more collaboration with the province through one, sustaining the VET program and eventually covering more recipients as there are still more employment opportunities in Australia.

The country, he said, currently has a high demand for workers in the healthcare, hospitality, and commercial cookery sectors.

“We will be opening windows for opportunity where demand exists or will come about,” Rivas said, adding that they expect more demand for workers in the building, health, education and business industries.

Amid these employment opportunities abroad, Negrenses are urged to “prepare” especially in terms of knowledge and skills.

For them to jump into bandwagon for Australia, they should grab the opportunity to be trained.

“Preparation is imperative. Education and training are what we advocate,” Rivas said, adding that “Filipinos including Negrenses are the ones we need to be in the workplace.”/epn