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Media Release
ADDRESSING SKILLS NEEDS
30 June, 2006
Australian Government Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, the Hon Gary Hardgrave MP, today announced a number of industry-led projects under the National Skills Shortages Strategy which will address skills needs and expand career options for Australians.
“The Government is firmly committed to addressing skills needs in Australia, demonstrated by the additional $6 million of funding committed to the National Skills Shortages Strategy in the recent Budget,” Mr Hardgrave said.
"The Strategy is playing a vital role in addressing key skills needs, particularly in traditional trades. The Government is partnering with key industry groups to develop solutions to address current and future industry skills demands.
"The Strategy supports innovative and strategic industry-led projects to look into workforce skills development needs, including training for new entrants and upskilling of existing workers.
“I will be offering contracts for an initial group of projects in industry areas such as manufacturing, printing, retail motor, retail baking and plumbing. The projects will focus on enabling more flexible arrangements for Australian Apprenticeships and reducing non-completion rates, assisting migrant workers to achieve trade status, and developing industry-based new training models.
“These projects will complement the initiatives announced following the February 2006 Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting which aim to address issues of a targeted response to skills issues in regions, training quality, workforce mobility and training system flexibility and responsiveness.
“Through these projects industry will be able to fully utilise vocational and technical education to assist in addressing its current and future skills needs while giving students relevant training that will lead to fulfilling careers.
“The Australian Government is providing $10.8 billion over the next 4 years – the biggest ever commitment to VTE by any government. We are providing over $5 billion over the life of the current Commonwealth-State Skilling Australia’s Workforce Agreement for the provision of training including through Registered Training Providers across all States and Territories.” Mr Hardgrave said.
Since 1995/1996 the number of publicly funded VTE students has increased by 26% to more than to 1.64 million people. The Howard Government is providing an additional 167,000 places over the 2005 to 2008 period through:
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The Commonwealth-State Skilling Australia’s Workforce Agreement (128,000 places);
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Australian Technical College (7,500 places);
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Australian Apprenticeship Access Programme (20,000 places); and
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Group Training in the Trades Programme (11,500 places).
The Howard Government has provided real options for young Australians and presided over record growth in the take up of Australian Apprenticeships:
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There are now over 389,000 Australian Apprentices in training, a 141 percent increase from 1996 when the Howard Government came to office;
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Completed apprenticeships in 2005 rose to 138,700 in the 12 months to December 2005, an increase by 2 percent on the previous 12 months; and
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There were 73,500 commencements in trades and related worker occupations in the 12 months to December 2005.
This is in stark contrast to when Mr Beazley was Minister, when the number of apprentices in training was down to 122,600 in 1993.
The Howard Government is also delivering a range of initiatives during 2006 to 2009 designed to attract and retain young Australians in the trades and provide incentives to encourage Australian business to take on these people and help develop their skills. These include:
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Establishing 25 Australian Technical Colleges across 24 regions to promote pride and excellence in the teaching and acquiring of trade skills at secondary school level at a cost of $343.6 million;
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Helping to ease the early financial burden on apprentices by providing apprentices starting an eligible apprenticeship with a tool kit worth up to $800;
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A $1000 Commonwealth Trade Learning Scholarship with $500 paid at the successful completion of each of the first and second years of their apprenticeship in an eligible trade with a small or medium size business;
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Extending the Living Away From Home Allowance to third-year apprentices who have moved away from home to take up or remain in an apprenticeship;
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An additional $106.7 million for Australian Apprenticeships Centres;
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$10.6 million over four years to extend incentives for employers of higher level apprentices in key growth areas; and
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An extra $6 million for the National Skill Shortages Strategy.
The commitment of the Australian Government to vocational and technical training and to providing training opportunities for all Australians is unprecedented in Australia’s history.
Minister Hardgrave’s Media Contact: Nikki Voss 0402 896 100
Dept of Education, Science and Training: Clare Gunning (02) 6240 7556
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