Page 24 - Climate Control News August 2021

NextGen 2021
Positive outlook for tertiary education
BELOW: SA TAFE CEO, David Coltman
LEFT: School-based apprenticeships are popular in South Australia.
BELOW RIGHT: SA Education Minister, John Gardner
ment of the government’s work to re-establish the prestige of vocational education and training pathways.
“We have worked very hard to create an envi- ronment where industry and schools are sup- ported to work closely together and it’s paying off,” he said.
“We are ensuring that opportunities are close- ly aligned with long-term career opportunities and the introduction of industry-endorsed Flex- ible Industry Pathways will only accelerate the growth in school-based apprenticeships.
“We are also strengthening career education so that students have a clear picture of opportu- nities from a young age.
“This will help them to make informed choices about their pathway into training, further study and work.”
TAFE SA chief executive David Coltman said it was great to see the continued strong demand for courses.
“TAFE SA continues to provide students across the state with flexible study options, with training delivered by expert lecturers to ensure our apprentices and trainees are well prepared for work,” Coltman said.
For the first time last month the federal gov- ernment released a nationally anchored assess- ment of Australia’s labour market analysis on oc- cupations through the Skills Priority List.
The list, developed through the National Skills Commission, provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for occupa- tions nationally, with current labour market rat- ings also available at a state and territory level.
Today, over 150 occupations face current skill shortages nationally, most commonly for techni- cians and trades workers.
The Skills Priority List will inform a range of government policy responses, including target- ing of apprenticeship incentives, training fund- ing and skilled migration.
The Skills Priority List can be found at https:// www.nationalskillscommission.gov.au/our- work/skills-priority-list ✺
DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, the outlook for re- frigeration and air conditioning apprentices has never looked better.
For the first time in a decade, apprenticeship commencements are at an all time-high.
If this increase can be sustained it will make a significant difference to the HVACR industry over time.
It shows apprenticeship commencements for the December quarter 2020 increased by 141.5 per cent compared with the December quarter 2019 (October to December).
The total number of apprentices and trainees in-training was 297,920, an increase of 13.9 per cent from 31 December 2019.
TAFE SA is leading the nation for apprentice and trainee growth, where training was provid- ed by a TAFE institute, according to National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) figures released today.
Overall, SA achieved a 21.5 per cent increase in apprentice and trainee commencements in 2020 compared to a year earlier – the largest increase of all the states and territories.
IT IS GREAT TO SEE STRONG DEMAND FOR COURSES.”
South Australia also came out on top when it comes to school-based commencements with an increase of 20.1 per cent.
A number of the apprentices included in the Top 20 under 25 utilised school-based appren- ticeships.
SA Education Minister, John Gardner, said the commencement figures are a ringing endorse-
Investing in a skilled workforce
TAFE CAPACITY IS being strengthened through- out Australia with new investment in TAFE cam- puses, facilities and services to students.
A stronger TAFE combined with wage subsi- dies has begun to deliver results.
Apprenticeship commencements for the De- cember quarter 2020 increased by 141.5 per cent compared with the December quarter 2019 (Oc- tober to December).
Both trade and non-trade com- mencements increased from the De- cember 2019 quarter by 123.5 per cent and 155.3 per cent respectively.
The significant surge in apprentice- ship commencements is good news.
From July 1, businesses who hire an
eligible job seeker will now be able to receive up to $10,000 in wages, an increase from $6,500 for some wage subsidies. About 300,000 people may be eligible for the higher wage subsidy.
Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, Stuart Robert, said these initiatives are supporting a new generation of Australian apprentices.
“The apprenticeship subsidy is de- veloping Australia’s next generation of tradies,” Robert said.
‘It is encouraging to see more Aus- tralians in work today than before the pandemic.”
Education Minister, Stuart Robert.
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