Page 30 - Climate Control News July 2019

Contracting
Boost to regional
apprentice program
LEFT: The government
has promised to fund 80,000 new apprenticeships.
WORK HAS COMMENCED ON A $60 MILLION EXPANSION OF THE APPRENTICE WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAM.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT has pledged to double the size of the trial program which encourages regional businesses to take on apprentices by having taxpayers help cover their wages.
Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, said learning a trade was just as valuable as getting a univer- sity degree.
"We're backing 1600 new sparkies, plumb- ers, mechanics, hairdressers and painters. Im- portantly, they will be learning their trade in
regional Australia where these skills are need- ed,” he said.
Under the program, taxpayers cover three- quarters the wages of a first-year apprentice, half for a second year and a quarter in the third year. It will cost another $60 million to expand from 1600 apprentices to 3200.
Master Builders Australia CEO, Denita Wawn, said the announcement is good news for the con- struction industry.
“The doubling in the number of participants
from around 1600 to around 3200 is good news for the thousands of building and construction businesses that are creating economic growth in rural and regional communities around the country,” she said.
“It's good to see the Government building on its Budget commitment to fund 80,000 new ap- prenticeships in areas of need such as building and construction,” she said.
“Building and construction is the nation’s sec-
State of the art training facility opens
MORE THAN 1,200
electrical and air-condi- tioning refrigeration stu- dents at TAFE Queens- land are set to benefit from a newly refurbished, innovative-training facili- ty which has officially
opened at the Ashmore Trade Training Centre. TAFE Queensland general manager on the Gold Coast, Karen Dickinson, said the $1.5 million fitout included installation of state-of-the-art equipment and the latest
industry technology.
“In collaboration with local industry we de-
signed the most high-level training centre on the Gold Coast for electrical and air-conditioning re- frigeration apprentices,” Dickinson said.
“It has 36 live wiring bays allowing students to complete their practical wiring assessment in a safe environment.”
The air-conditioning and re- frigeration area boasts eight cool rooms with two freezer room options as well as a prac- tical workshop area and hybrid practical and theory room.
Dickinson said these areas have significantly enhanced the quality of learning for students, improved delivery and custom- er satisfaction and met industry standards. Prior to refurbish- ment, the building was occupied by the Gold Coast Common- wealth Games Corporation.
BELOW: The refurbished TAFE training centre has eight cool rooms.
LEFT: TAFE Queensland general manager on the Gold Coast, Karen Dickinson
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