MEDIA RELEASE
A NEW APPROACH TO TACKLING SKILLS SHORTAGES IN TRADES
6 April, 2004 MIN 673/04
Today I am announcing a National Skills Shortages Strategy to
address skills shortages in critical industries throughout Australia
and also a ‘one-stop shop’ web based site for students, parents and
industry on skill shortage careers:
getatrade.gov.au .
The new Strategy will take an industry approach to skill needs
and tackle many of the significant disincentives which can turn
young people away from choosing trades as a career.
Under the new Strategy, there will be greater flexibility in
traditional trade training. New approaches to New Apprenticeships in
key skill shortage industries will be tested, such as shorter
apprenticeships in the building and construction and automotive
retail service and repair industries, and specialised apprenticeship
pathways in the housing sector of the building and construction
industry.
In addition to working in partnership with key industries such as
engineering, energy and utilities, skill shortages on a regional
basis will be addressed. Local communities are facing skill shortage
as a result of the introduction of new industries, or the departure
of existing ones, resulting in the need for communities to
"reinvent" themselves through training, education and employment.
Industries will be encouraged and assisted to "adopt a school" –
regularly meeting with school students and their careers advisers
and teachers to broaden their understanding of trade industries. I
will also meet annually with New Apprentices in traditional trades
to obtain feedback on what encourages or discourages those
considering careers in the trades. Their insights will help dislodge
outdated views that trades are "dirty, dangerous and difficult".
Through "fast tracked" training programmes involving people with
relevant existing skills, mature-age workers, parents returning to
work, and people looking for a career change will be especially
targeted towards New Apprenticeships.
The Government recognises the importance to Australian industry
of having a workforce with the right skills to ensure continued
competitiveness. Under the Strategy, the Australian Government will
also review the quality and usefulness of labour market forecasting,
with a robust data base to be used for the development of
industry-specific skills policy.
The National Skills Shortages Strategy is the next phase
of the Government’s vital work in partnership with industry and
local communities to address current and future skills needs and to
assist the 70% of students who do not go directly from school to
university.
The Howard Government is committed to ensuring that all young
people find and achieve their potential, through the training,
educational or vocational path which best suits them.
Attached are Fact Sheets detailing the Strategy initiatives.
Media Contacts:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Ross Hampton 0419 484 095
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Laila Lacis 0412 040 034
Fact Sheets
or
- INNOVATIVE SKILLS
SHORTAGES PROJECTS
 (458KB)
-
REGIONAL SKILLS SHORTAGES
(453KB)
-
TRANSITIONS AND STUDENT TO
WORK ARRANGEMENTS
(198KB)
-
‘ADOPT A SCHOOL’ – INDUSTRY
ENGAGEMENT IN
(190KB)
-
NEW APPRENTICES ROUNDTABLE
(198KB)
-
LABOUR MARKET PROJECTIONS
TO SUPPORT INDUSTRY
(191KB)
-
BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF
THE NATIONAL INDUSTRY
(466KB)
-
SCIENCE AND EMERGING
TECHNOLOGY CAREERS
(199KB)
-
REPORT OF THE SENATE
INQUIRY INTO CURRENT AND
(195KB)
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