Group Training Australia (GTA) has extended a warm welcome to Chris Bowen as he takes up the Ministry for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research.

GTA’s CEO, Jim Barron, said the elevation of Mr Bowen to the portfolio reflected the Government’s priorities of skills development and employment generation.

As a local member, Mr Bowen has shown a strong interest in supporting apprentices, highlighting the importance of trades training in career development and the critical role this plays.

“It is particularly significant that responsibility for small business has been added to the portfolio, since so much of Australia’s skills formation occurs in small and medium sized enterprises,” Mr Barron said.