Apprenticeship Employment Network

AE News Volume 14, Issue 27

Friday, 16th July 2021
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Upcoming Events

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11 Aug - GTO Managers & QA Standards Networks Meetings

Victorian Snap COVID-19 Lockdown

Victoria has gone back into lockdown conditions as at 11.59pm Wednesday 15 July 2021.

A list of authorised work and workers is available online (it is the same as last time) – but you all know the drill.

That means you can only leave home to get food and the supplies you need, for exercise for up to two hours and no more than 5kms from your home, for care or caregiving, work or education if you can’t do it from home or to get vaccinated at the nearest possible location.

If you were an authorised worker during the last lockdown, you’ll be an authorised worker this time around. Everyone else must work from home.

For further COVID-19 details and restrictions please visit DHHS.

Official Opening of the North East Link Jobs and Skills Centre

NELP Watsonia Hub
On Tuesday morning, Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney officially opened the centre at Watsonia. The NELP Hub will be a one-stop-shop to connect locals to the 10,000 jobs that are available on the North East Link project, creating a pipeline of skilled workers to help build Victoria’s future.

Jobseekers are invited to walk-in and explore exciting opportunities in areas like engineering and construction trades, traffic management, conservation land management and administration. The centre will also support employers and industry by connecting them with workers and provide opportunities to develop and expand.

The North East Link project is the biggest road project in Victoria’s history, and is supported by the $33 million Big Build Apprenticeships program which will provide 1,500 opportunities to Victorian apprentices and trainees each year for four years to kickstart their careers on projects including the new Footscray Hospital and Warrnambool Learning and Library Hub.

At least 10 per cent of the construction hours on these projects will be completed by apprentices and trainees, strengthening pathways from the classroom to the workforce. Additionally, 2.5 per cent of the workforce will be Aboriginal.

Early works on North East Link have already provided job opportunities to 64 apprentices, trainees and cadets who have worked more than 70,000 hours.

The Skills and Jobs Centre has been launched in partnership with Apprenticeships Victoria, which coordinates and oversees all aspects of the delivery of apprenticeships and forms a key part of the Victorian Government’s unprecedented investment in the training and skills sector.

Have Your Say on Education Reform

Victorians are being encouraged to have their say on the Victorian Government’s major reforms of school-based vocational education and senior secondary education.

The reforms will see the integration of the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) into the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE). This will give Victorian students high-quality, practical skills that delivers a pathway to Victoria’s most in-demand jobs.

A new foundation certificate will be established from 2023 to support students in all settings to successfully transition to entry level VET or employment after finishing school, particularly students with a disability and additional needs.

Victorians can have their say on the new certificate designs, on what units students are going to do as part of their certificate and on what the certificates will be called.

The Government is keen for community feedback on how to best support all students to complete a two-year certificate, the impact of mandating a minimum number of units, and ensuring forms of assessment will best support student learning.

The Government is keen to hear from students, parents, caregivers, schools, TAFEs, universities and other service providers, peak bodies, industry, employers and the wider community through the Engage Victoria website.

The move to the new certificates follows a review by former Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority CEO John Firth. They will be complemented by broader reforms to the senior secondary system, which will improve the quality of, and access to, vocational and applied learning pathways for all students. The reforms are supported by a $38 million investment announced in the Victorian Budget 2020/21.

Receiving a Trade Paper

Trade Papers Example
A trade paper is a certificate issued by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) that commemorates the completion of an apprenticeship.​

You can​ receive a free trade paper if you completed both:
  • a recognised apprenticeship in Victoria, which you started after 1 January 1995
  • the apprenticeship's relevant qualification with a TAFE, trade school or registered training organisation.

If you completed your apprenticeship and relevant qualification on or after 1 July 2021 there is no need to submit an application to receive your trade paper. Newly qualified eligible apprentices will automatically receive a trade paper in the mail.

If you completed your apprenticeship and relevant qualification before 1 July 2021, you will need to make an application in order to receive a trade paper.

When you apply, you'll need to provide your qualification title and code. Your TAFE, trade school or registered training organisation can provide you with this information.

Kangan Institute’s Building and Construction
Pre-Apprenticeship Skills Showcase and Networking

Kangan and TAFEVic logo
Kangan pre-apprenticeship pic
This FREE event on Thursday 22 July is a great opportunity to meet Kangan Institute's enthusiastic and skilled Building & Construction Pre-Apprenticeship students and potentially secure the next apprentice for your clients. Kangan's Apprenticeship Development Manager will also be in attendance to answer any queries.

The students will be presenting the mini houses project that they have worked on as a part of their course and are seeking a chance to build up their industry connections and find employment.

Date: Thursday 22 July
Time: 4pm - 6pm
Venue: T Building, Kangan Institute, Broadmeadows Campus
Parking: Enter through Gate 4 via Dimboola Road and park in the carpark on the right
Dress: Neat casual

Light food and refreshments will be provided.

To register, please visit Skills Showcase & Networking Event.

Registrations close Sunday 18 July.

If you have any questions, please email events@kangan.edu.au.

New National Skills Priority List

The National Skills Commission (NSC) is responsibile for regularly reviewing the national skills needs of Australia and producing a Skills Priority List (SPL).

The SPL provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level. The future demand rating (available nationally) is a proportional measure that expresses the prospects for an occupation relative to that occupation’s size.
Skills Priority List

NCVER Update

A new report, Begin with the end: RTO practices and views on independent validation of assessment seeks to better understand the persistent issues relating to RTO practices in conducting independent moderation and validation of assessment, and the role industry plays in this process.

The integration of validation into ongoing RTO-employer business relationships is seen as potentially more constructive than formal validation arrangements since many employers, particularly SMEs, see validation as the responsibility of the RTO.

Validation has the potential to bridge the gap between training package requirements and industry realities, which often evolve more quickly than the training package.
Training commencements up 141.5% in December 2020

The most recent release of national apprentice and trainee data show there were 297,920 apprentices and trainees in training as at 31 December 2020.

Apprentices and trainees data for the December quarter shows a dramatic increase in commencements compared with the same quarter in 2019. This increase coincides with the introduction of the Australian Government’s Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy.

The industries with the largest absolute increases in commencements were Construction, Accommodation, and Manufacturing.

While students completing training had decreased 15.7% from the previous 12 months, fewer were cancelling or withdrawing; down 4.5% from December 2019.

Both completions and cancellations/withdrawals decreased by 15.7% and 4.5% respectively compared to December 2019.

A range of state comparisons are also available.

Individual completion rates for apprentices and trainees who commenced training in 2016

The latest NCVER report shows individual completion rates for apprentices and trainees who commenced training in 2016 have decreased slightly to 56.1% (down 1.5 percentage points from individuals commencing in 2015).

The completion rate for individuals who commenced their training in 2016 in trade occupations is 55.1%. The corresponding rate for those in non-trade is higher at 56.5%.

Completion and attrition rates for apprentices and trainees 2020 tracks apprentice and trainee outcomes from when they started their training through to December 2020, recognising it generally takes 3 to 4 years to complete a trade and 1 to 2 years to complete a non-trade apprenticeship or traineeship. Where enough time has elapsed, NCVER reports observed actual contract completion rates, while projected contract completion rates for those who started their apprenticeship or traineeship more recently are also included, noting these projections will likely be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Retrenched Apprentices and Trainees Program

Retrenched Apprentices and Trainees Program Banner
Out of Trade Banner
This program has now supported over 815 participants since May 2020, and over 320 apprentices and trainees have commenced with a new employer.

Currently, there are almost 80 participants on our active caseload.
Top 6 Occupations


  • Electrical
  • Plumbing
  • Carpentry
  • Hair & Beauty
  • Chefs
  • General Mechanic
For Individuals

Apprentices and trainees who have lost employment are encouraged to register.

Once on the register, apprentices and trainees will be assisted by one of our program officers until placed with a host employer through a Group Training Organisation (GTO), or directly with an employer, whilst also directing you to the most appropriate advice and assistance while you remain out of employment.
If you have an apprenticeship or traineeship position you would like to fill, please contact the AEN Office so we can forward potential candidates that meet your criteria.

For further information or to register for the program please visit Apprenticeship Employment Network.
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