More than $25 million will be committed by the federal and NT governments to increase the training capability in essential health care services, with a focus on aged care, birthing, children's healthcare, and mental health care.
The announcement on Tuesday to "turbocharge" the Regional and Remote Essential Care Services (RRECS) Centre of Excellence through Charles Darwin University and Batchelor Institute in Central Australia will see $20.1 million invested by the two governments.
In addition, a further $5.3 million will be put towards the establishment of the RRECS Centre of Excellence by the federal government, which will help to establish central training hubs in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek and make mobile services available in remote areas.
In delivering "essential care training" in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, the federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, said the government is "training the next generation of regional and remote health workers for the Northern Territory".
"Labor's investment will also fast-track a series of mobile training units, making access to skills training even easier," she said.
"Alongside our commitment to train 500 First Nations health workers, this investment will ensure greater access to training in regional and remote areas of the NT for our future health workforce."
Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour said the increased training for workers in remote areas of the NT is "crucial to the delivery of essential healthcare services".
"This funding agreement will provide more local healthcare workers, more local jobs and better access to healthcare for Territorians," she said.
The TAFE Centre of Excellence will help "boost" participation in training and upskilling for Indigenous Australians and people across remote communities in the NT, the government says. They added it will help develop a Higher Apprenticeship Pathway to tackle qualification gaps and grow the essential care workforce.
Last year, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) launched the First Nations Health Worker Traineeship (FNHWT) program, which aims to certify up to 500 Indigenous individuals as either Aboriginal Health Workers or Aboriginal Health Practitioners by 2027.
Designed by the Indigenous groups in partnership with the government, the Commonwealth committed more than $50 million to the project, which is delivered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Registered Training Organisations.
Under the five-year National Skills Agreement to establish up to 20 TAFE Centres of Excellence, the government has committed $325 million in funding, arguing it will "enable a series of mobile training units to be fast-tracked, so locals can access critical skills training sooner".
Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles said the NT RRECS "will build and share their expertise in regional and remote training with TAFEs across Australia".
"An investment in skills is an investment in a better future, especially in the critical area of care and services, so we are committed to ensuring no Australian is left behind, or held back," Mr Giles said.
"We are working to close the gap by removing barriers to accessing life-changing education and training for First Nations Australians."
On Wednesday, the News Corp papers reported Opposition leader Peter Dutton will axe the free TAFE places if elected Prime Minister, with Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson telling voters it simply "isn't working."
A TikTok video surfaced of Ms Henderson telling Geelong voters that Labor's free TAFE policy costs taxpayers too much and "isn't working."
"The free TAFE policy, I am sorry. It's just not working. I am trying to be polite,'' she said.
