Perth Festival attracts thousands of tourists and fosters social harmony and community pride in Western Australia, a new report shows. More than 7,300 overseas and interstate visitors made a big economic impact on WA through the Festival last summer, recording 26,650 attendances and staying a combined 65,112 nights while they were here. ​Forty per cent of surveyed tourists said they had come to Perth specifically for the Festival. The Festival’s direct economic impact was $19 million, providing flow-on economic value to the State of $26.4 million and generating 581 full-time equivalent jobs. the Festival made a major impact with its arts sector development initiatives and the most comprehensive creative learning and education program of any arts festival in Australia.

Young people in Kalgoorlie are set to benefit from the latest round of State Government funding aimed at encouraging people to become physically active and more involved in their communities. 
 
Seventeen projects around Western Australia, including a gymnastics program run by the Kalgoorlie Youth Gymnastics Club, will receive funding  under the Targeted Participation Program which aims to engage people from who are statistically less likely to participate in sport and recreation activities. 
Read more about the funding

Sport Australia’s recently released national sport plan, Sport 2030, cites the social and health benefits of participating in sport and identifies building a more active Australia as one of its four key priorities.
 
Download Sport 2030, the national sport plan.

A new $100,000 pilot fund opening today will give Western Australian creatives development opportunities in the virtual reality, augmented reality and video games industries. The Screenwest Interactive Pilot Fund provides funding support for the development and/or production of high-quality original interactive digital media content projects.
The fund will allow local developers to hone and present their craft, and ensure they are competitive on the rapidly growing global market. The fund is designed to allow Screenwest to explore engagement with the West Australian interactive sector. Screenwest states it is looking to support local games developers and interactive practitioners. It is anticipated the outcomes of this fund will assist in securing future pathways for national and international partnerships and leverage innovative funding to create a sustainable industry in the state for the long term.
The Interactive Pilot Fund is delivered by Screenwest with funding support from Lotterywest. For more information and to apply, visit http://www.screenwest.com.au

Prime Minister Scott Morrison's new post-election cabinet has been announced, with a number of changes affecting the vocational education sector and creative and leisure industries.
​While Simon Birmingham retains Tourism and Karen Andrews retains Science and Technology, Communications and the Arts move from Mitch Fifield to Paul Fletcher, former senior Optus executive and long time telecommunications adviser.
Responsibility for Youth and Sport will move from Bridget McKenzie to Richard Colbeck. 
Responsibility for vocational education will sit with WA Member for Swan Steve Irons, and is set to move across to sit under Michaelia Cash's Employment portfolio, rather than under Dan Tehan and the Education portfolio as previously.
A list of changes can be found here.

A Bill was introduced into State Parliament on 15 May  that will enable the sale of the Western Australian TAB.
 
The Bill includes a historic reform package for the Western Australian racing industry. In addition to being significant beneficiaries of the point of consumption tax, the sale of the TAB will ensure the industry receives the same operational funding levels, as well as 35 per cent of sale proceeds set aside for a dedicated racing infrastructure fund.
 
"This will ensure the sustainability and prosperity of the industry into the future," Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia said.

The introduction of the Bill follows extensive and constructive consultation between the Government and industry, including metropolitan and regional forums, and takes into consideration 107 written submissions in response to a discussion paper released last year.   Once the Bill is passed, the Government will commence the sale process.

Read more

The State Government will introduce an Employer Incentive Scheme to help thousands of Western Australian employers with the costs of employing an apprentice or new entrant trainee.
 
"The State Training Board has identified that cost is a significant barrier to taking on an apprentice or trainee. The Employer Incentive Scheme will help reduce this barrier and grow apprenticeship and traineeship commencements," Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery said.
 
Under the Employer Incentive Scheme, businesses will receive a base payment of up to $8,500 for employing an apprentice or new entrant trainee. It is estimated this scheme will extend State Government support to nearly 6,000 businesses.  Additional loadings will increase the payment for regional areas, employees with disability, priority occupations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, and apprentices aged between 21 to 30 years.
 
Read more

In a media statement released by Tourism Minister Paul Papalia, it was announced that Tourism WA will introduce a Tourism Case Management Framework to support proponents in the application and approvals process of establishing new tourism businesses in WA. The Tourism Case Management Framework will provide advice about which approvals are required, and will ensure the relevant authorities consider applications in a timely manner. It is expected that the number of tourist attractions in WA will increase, as will the number of associated jobs.  
The full media statement can be read here.

The 2019 WA State Budget has been released, with a number of initiatives funded to support culture and tourism across the state. Examples include $3.6m for Aboriginal tourism initiatives, $19.9m to extend the Regional Arts and Cultural Investment Program, and a $649,000 investment in a Rock Art Strategy. Tourism WA will receive $12m towards overseas marketing, and $2.5m is being directed towards the reopening of Gwoonwardu Mia, the Gascoyne Aboriginal Heritage and Cultural Centre.

Read Premier McGowan's statement here.
Read more about the 2019 WA State Budget here.

Entries are now open for the 2019 Tourism Training Australia Teacher / Trainer of the Year. The awards are open to all trainers / teachers currently employed in one of the ten award categories, from Commercial Cookery, Asian Cookery and Patisserie to Hospitality Management, Travel and Tourism and Event Management.
For more information and to access the entry form, please click here.

​Minister Ellery yesterday announced a new, third, pathway to achieving the WACE for senior high school students in WA. Students beginning Year 11 in 2020 will now have another option to achieve their Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) in 2021. ​Currently to achieve their WACE, students must complete a minimum of five courses in Year 12, of which a minimum of four must be Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) courses (ATAR pathway) or complete four General Courses with a Certificate II or higher (General Pathway with Vocational Education and Training (VET).