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Media Release
$1.6 BILLION EACH YEAR FOR TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AUSTRALIANS
11 May 1999 The Howard Government will provide funding of $354 million in 1999-2000 for New Apprenticeships providing an annual commitment of more than $1.6 billion to support vocational education and training including programmes for unemployed young people in Australia, the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Dr David Kemp announced today. This represents an increase of $130 million for vocational education and training over the four year period. These funds will support the further development of the national vocational education and training system and the increases in incentives which have resulted in record numbers of New Apprentices in training which now stand at an all time high with 206,400 as at December 1998. The Commonwealth funds also support school leavers as they make the move from school to work through the Jobs Pathway Programme and funding through the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA). "We have seen unprecedented growth in training opportunities over the past few years and the Budget initiatives will provide a further boost to the already record levels of people in training," said Dr Kemp. As part of promoting higher standards, greater opportunities and increased choice in vocational education and training, under the ANTA Agreement for 1998-2000, the Commonwealth is maintaining funding to the States and Territories with $918 million in funding allocated for 1999 to TAFE and the private training sector and $172.6 million over four years for national programmes. This year, the Government has also underlined its commitment to young Australians by announcing a range of training initiatives that will help young people move from school into the workforce, particularly in rural and regional Australia. "Funding for this new initiative to support regional Australia will total $51.4 million over five years, commencing 1 January 1999," said Dr Kemp. "The Rural and Regional New Apprenticeships initiative, which I launched earlier this year, will see this number grow even further by building a local skills base which in turn creates new opportunities for growth and greater job security in regional centres across Australia. This is a direct fulfilment of an election promise to address skill shortages in rural Australia." The additional funding will help employers in rural and regional Australia train New Apprentices in occupations where a skills shortage has been identified. It is expected to assist 30,000 New Apprentices by providing an additional $1,000 incentive when an employer progresses a New Apprentice from Certificate 2 training to Certificate 3 training. A further $26 million in funding over the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 financial years will be allocated for the continuation of the successful Jobs Pathway Program (JPP) to provide vocational education and training opportunities in schools. "The Jobs Pathway Program is an important way to help the 70% of school leavers who do not go on to university to move smoothly from school into work. The Government was very clear in its election statements that it was totally committed to strengthening options for these young people so that they avoid periods of unemployment," said Dr Kemp. The Government will also provide funding of $400,000 in 1999 Media contact: Samantha Herron 0412 639 754 or 02 6277 7460
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