Page 14 - Climate Control News Nov 2019

In Focus
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LEFT: The government has created a new payment to support up to 80,000 new apprenticeships over five years. Occupations eligible for the payment include RAC technicians.
BELOW: Federal Minister for VET
and Apprenticeships, Steve Irons.
skills shortages. This new payment will help create and support up to 80,000 new appren- ticeships over five years.
Occupations eligible for the payment include refrigeration and air conditioning technicians, carpenters and plumbers.
“This is a terrific initiative to support business- es in the residential construction sector to take on apprentices, with up to $4,000 in financial support in addition to existing programs,” he said.
“WE ARE REALLY JUST AT THE BEGINNING OF A LONG PROCESS OF TRANSFORMING VET.” – STEVE IRONS.
From July 1 next year, Irons said it will be sim- pler for employers to claim incentives under the new Incentives for Australian Apprenticeships scheme.
“We’ve also doubled the size of the successful Australian Apprentice Wage Subsidy Trial to sup- port up to 3,200 Australians living in regional are- as. “Our overall aim is to grow the apprentice-
ships system and build the workforce. ,” Irons said.
“We are at the beginning of a long pro- cess of transforming VET and it’s crucial that everyone involved shares their in- sights and gets involved in offering ways to better meet future workforce needs, par- ticularly in areas of skills shortage.”
positive signs of recovery
THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT HAS OPENED STAGE ONE
OF THE $83.4 MILLION CAMPUS REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT
AT CHISHOLM INSTITUTE’S FRANKSTON CAMPUS.
NEW DATA RELEASED last month reveals 36,000 students have started Free TAFE courses in the nine months to the end of September – a 90 per cent increase in commencements in these courses compared to the same period in 2018.
Chisholm Institute has played a major part in this growth, with more than 6,000 students starting Free TAFE courses – up 187 per cent compared with the same time last year.
The Federal Government is also working to re- juvenate TAFE and has a goal to create more than 1.25 million jobs over the next five years.
In the May Federal Budget the government an- nounced a $525 million Vocational Education and Training (VET) package.
A flagship initiative within the skills package is the establishment of a $36 million National Skills Commission to help bridge the gaps between the sector, industries, students and the community.
The Commission has a critical leadership role, charged with engaging with the VET sector and working collaboratively with the Common- wealth, states and territories to review and im- prove the current funding arrangements.
The Skills Package also includes substantial
funding to establish 10 Training Hubs across Australia as part of a pilot program to tackle youth unemployment in key regions by building better connections between local businesses, in- dustries and schools. Training Hubs will be es- tablished in these regions to help local young peo- ple to engage in vocational education and training, and to develop the skills suited to occupations in local industries.
Assistant Minister for VET and Apprentice- ships, Steve Irons, said the government will also create a National Careers Institute to bring to- gether information about career pathways, and provide a framework for quality career guidance on a national scale.
“The Institute will help connect more than half a million young Australians who are not fully engaged in work or study with industries that are struggling to find skilled employees,” Irons said.
“A Careers Ambassador will also be appoint- ed to work on behalf of the Institute, to connect with tertiary providers, schools and industry to identify gaps in services, and promote op- portunities to improve community and em- ployer awareness of the VET sector.
“Being a qualified electrician myself, I have a passionate interest in the success of the Austral- ian apprenticeship system.”
Among other measures in the Skills package, Irons said the gov- ernment is investing $156 million in an Additional Identified Skills Shortage payment to eligible ap- prentices and their employers in 10 occupations experiencing national
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