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Premier Gladys Berejiklian today announced the NSW Government is working with German powerhouse Siemens to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to bring advanced technologies and innovations in vocational education and training (VET) to the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.
Founded in 1847, Siemens is the largest industrial manufacturing company in Europe.
Ms Berejiklian made the announcement ahead of a tour of a ‘Smart City’ to learn about Germany’s innovative approach to vocational education and training (VET) on the sixth and final day of her international trade mission.
The up to €600 million ‘Siemensstadt 2.0’ or Siemens City 2.0 innovation precinct is set to transform a 70 hectare industrial area in Berlin into a modern, urban district with offices, residences, laboratories and production plants in place by 2030.
“The NSW Government is committed to building a supply of skilled labour to meet the jobs needs of the future,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“I’m excited to learn more about Germany’s dual system of on-the-job and classroom training and see how that works in practice for companies like Siemens.”
Germany’s VET system provides trainees with high-level technical skills and has been especially effective at responding to changes in technology and the employment needs of business, providing a reliable source of high-skilled labour for local companies and supporting the global competitiveness of small to medium enterprises.
Siemens is a major investor in VET, training around 8000 apprentices and students in Germany each year.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said a strong VET system will be essential for ensuring the success of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.
“The key to ensuring that additional jobs created through the Aerotropolis are sustainable is to provide workers with the skills they need for future industries,” Mr Ayres said. “That’s why the NSW Government will establish a permanent VET facility in the Aerotropolis with a focus on advanced manufacturing, technology and engineering.”
The Premier is on a trade mission to the UK and Germany from August 11 to 16 with Mr Ayres, exploring innovative partnership options for NSW.

Champion golfer Craig Parry has backed the NSW Government’s Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program, supporting the installation of more devices across the State, to keep saving lives.
Nearly 1,200 grants have been handed out to sporting clubs and councils across NSW since the launch of the program, to assist in the purchase of Automated External Defibrillators (AED) to respond to cardiac emergencies.
“I hope they’ll never have to be used, but if they are, they will be crucial to saving lives on the golf course and other sports arenas.” Mr Parry said.
Minister for Sport John Sidoti is encouraging sports clubs across the state to apply for grants for this potentially life-saving equipment.
“Early access to a defibrillator can mean the difference between life and death in the event of a cardiac arrest,” Mr Sidoti said.
“With more and more people of all ages participating in amateur sport, it is vital clubs and councils are equipped to respond to life-threating emergencies.”
Mr Sidoti launched the 2019/20 round of the program at Concord Golf Club which was awarded a grant to purchase four defibrillators in the last round of the program, bringing the club’s total to five.
General Manager, Glenn Phillips said due to the club’s demographic, it was vital there was access to this potentially life-saving equipment from anywhere on the course.
“The golf course spans 43 acres and due to the distance from the clubhouse to the furthest hole, we felt it was imperative that we install additional defibrillators,” Mr Phillips said.
“We now have defibrillators installed in purpose-built huts next to tee boxes around the course, providing quick access in the event of an emergency.”
The Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program is a four-year $4 million NSW Government program. For more information on the Local Sports Defibrillator Program, visit: https://sport.nsw.gov.au/clubs/grants/defibrillato

New South Wales remains the jobs capital of Australia with ABS figures released today showing we have the lowest unemployment rate of any state at just 4.4 per cent.
NSW added 12,963 jobs in July with the participation rate in NSW at 65.9 per cent, while the NSW unemployment rate fell 0.2 percentage points.
NSW remains well below the national unemployment rate of 5.2 per cent and is lower than our neighbour states of Victoria 4.8 per cent, Queensland 6.4 per cent, and South Australia 6.9 per cent.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the figures reflected the Government’s commitment to boosting employment and opportunity.
“The Government’s record $93 billion infrastructure program is doing the heavy lifting, with total public investment expected to contribute around ½ a percentage point to the State’s growth and support around 100,000 jobs in 2019-20 and 2020-21,” Mr Perrottet said.
“NSW has a strong economy and the latest jobs figures continue to reflect the benefits to our willingness to recycle assets and build the schools, hospitals, roads and new rail lines the state needs.”
Mr Perrottet said Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe had recently commented on the benefits to the economy of increased spending on infrastructure.
“NSW is the clear leader in Australia on building infrastructure, we are billions of dollars ahead of other states, and the benefits are clear when you look at how we are performing even in a time when there are economic challenges right across the world,” Mr Perrottet said.
“NSW has a reputation for being a world leader in asset recycling – we are ensuring the State’s balance sheet is working for the people of NSW in the most productive and beneficial ways possible.
“In contrast as we saw during both the NSW and Federal election campaigns earlier this year Labor’s only plan was to cancel projects and raise taxes.”

Western Sydney will be the centre of 3D printing in Australia thanks to a new joint initiative between the NSW Government and industry leader GE Additive.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian was in Munich today to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with GE Additive to develop industrial-scale 3D printing at the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.
“3D printing is on the cutting edge of manufacturing globally and this deal will help make Western Sydney the nation’s leader,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Our partnership with GE Additive will create many hi-tech jobs across the aerospace, medical and automotive sectors.”
GE Additive is at the forefront of metal additive manufacturing, which is disrupting manufacturing industries and accelerating the way products are designed and made.
Ms Berejiklian visited the GE Additive Customer Experience Centre in Munich, which provides access to 3D printing experts and specialised training for companies of all sizes.
“We are extremely honoured to welcome Premier Berejiklian and the NSW delegation to Munich and equally so to be part of this wider vision for Western Sydney and especially the Aerotropolis precinct,” Jason Oliver, President and CEO of GE Additive, said.
“Adopting an ecosystem approach to additive manufacturing will drive the adoption of this new technology and the development of new businesses and skilled jobs,” Mr Oliver said.
“Given NSW’s rich seam of talent and ambition for the future, we are particularly excited at the impact our work together could have, not just in NSW, but nation-wide and more broadly across the APAC region.”
Ms Berejiklian said enhanced 3D printing capabilities will be a key component of a new space industry hub at the Aerotropolis.
“We are aiming to triple the size of Australia’s space sector to $12 billion by 2030, creating up to 20,000 new jobs in this industry alone,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This agreement demonstrates our commitment to look globally to bring the best opportunities to NSW.”
Today’s announcement follows an agreement signed in December between the NSW Government and 18 NSW space companies, research and education institutions, as well as the CSIRO, to establish a new Space Industry Hub at the Aerotropolis.
Ms Berejiklian and Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres are on a trade mission to the UK and Germany from August 11 to 16.