Apprenticeship Employment Network

AE News Volume 13, Issue 26

Friday, 24th July 2020
Hi Reader!

Upcoming Events

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12 Aug
QA Standards Network Meeting

24-28 Aug
AEN Industry Update Series

Retrenched Apprentices and Trainees Program

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Retrenched Apprentices and Trainees Program
Now into its ninth week, the Retrenched Apprentices and Trainees Program has received almost 250 registrations from apprentices and trainees who have been affected by the current economic crisis.

The top 3 sectors represented are:
  1. Building and Construction
  2. Electrical, Electronics and Utilities
  3. Automotive and Boating
The top 3 occupations are the:
  1. Electrical Trades
  2. Plumbing and Roofing
  3. Carpentry, Joinery and Cabinetmaking
First year apprentices make up over 46 percent of those seeking assistance and while regional Victoria has been affected slightly, the vast majority of participants are located in the Metro Melbourne area.

We have also seen employer confidence in the economy boost with more job vacancies being listed on last month. The register currently has over 410 job vacancies listed.

The program aims to assist apprentices and trainees who have lost their employment complete their training.

For Individuals

Apprentices and trainees who have lost their 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.

Program officers will also help direct you to the most appropriate advice and assistance while you remain out of employment.


For Employers

Employers who have job vacancies for apprentices or trainees can submit them on the vacancy register.

Our program officers will match your vacancy with suitable candidates for you to interview.

Employers may also be eligible for Australian Government incentives.


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

Update to Jobkeeper

This week the Commonwealth Government announced an extension and eligibility changes to the Jobkeeper program.

The JobKeeper Payment, which was originally due to run until 27 September 2020, will now continue to be available to eligible businesses (including the self-employed) and not-for-profits until 28 March 2021.

The payment rate of $1,500 per fortnight for eligible employees and business participants will be reduced to $1,200 per fortnight from 28 September 2020 and to $1,000 per fortnight from 4 January 2021. From 28 September 2020, lower payment rates will apply for employees and business participants that worked fewer than 20 hours per week.

From 28 September 2020, businesses and not-for-profits seeking to claim the JobKeeper Payment will be required to demonstrate that they have suffered an ongoing significant decline in turnover using actual GST turnover (rather than projected GST turnover).

From 28 September 2020, businesses and not-for-profits will be required to reassess their eligibility with reference to their actual GST turnover in the June and September quarters 2020. They will need to demonstrate that they have met the relevant decline in turnover test in both of those quarters to be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment from 28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021.

From 4 January 2021, businesses and not-for-profits will need to further reassess their turnover to be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment. They will need to demonstrate that they have met the relevant decline in turnover test with reference to their actual GST turnover in each of the June, September and December quarters 2020 to remain eligible for the JobKeeper Payment from 4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021.

To be eligible for JobKeeper Payments under the extension, businesses and not-for-profits will still need to demonstrate that they have experienced a decline in turnover of:
  • 50 per cent for those with an aggregated turnover of more than $1 billion;
  • 30 per cent for those with an aggregated turnover of $1 billion or less; or
  • 15 per cent for Australian Charities and Not for profits Commission-registered charities (excluding schools and universities).
If a business or not-for-profit does not meet the additional turnover tests for the extension period, this does not affect their eligibility prior to 28 September 2020.

The JobKeeper Payment will continue to remain open to new recipients, provided they meet the existing eligibility requirements and the additional turnover tests during the extension period.

Other eligibility rules for businesses and not-for-profits and their employees remain unchanged.



The JobKeeper Payment rate

From 28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021, the JobKeeper Payment rates will be:
  • $1,200 per fortnight for all eligible employees who, in the four weeks of pay periods before 1 March 2020, were working in the business or not-for-profit for 20 hours or more a week on average, and for eligible business participants who were actively engaged in the business for 20 hours or more per week on average in the month of February 2020; and
  • $750 per fortnight for other eligible employees and business participants.
From 4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021, the JobKeeper Payment rates will be:
  • $1,000 per fortnight for all eligible employees who, in the four weeks of pay periods before 1 March 2020, were working in the business or not-for-profit for 20 hours or more a week on average and for business participants who were actively engaged in the business for 20 hours or more per week on average in the month of February 2020; and
  • $650 per fortnight for other eligible employees and business participants.
Businesses and not-for-profits will be required to nominate which payment rate they are claiming for each of their eligible employees (or business participants).

The Commissioner of Taxation will have discretion to set out alternative tests where an employee’s or business participant’s hours were not usual during the February 2020 reference period. For example, this will include where the employee was on leave, volunteering during the bushfires, or not employed for all or part of February 2020.

Guidance will be provided by the ATO where the employee was paid in non-weekly or non-fortnightly pay periods and in other circumstances the general rules do not cover.

The JobKeeper Payment will continue to be made by the ATO to employers in arrears. Employers will continue to be required to make payments to employees equal to, or greater than, the amount of the JobKeeper Payment (before tax), based on the payment rate that applies to each employee. This is called the wage condition.

You can find more information via Prime Minister of Australia.

Independent Assessment of Apprentices & Trainees

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Commonwealth Government Economic and Fiscal Update

On Thursday this week the Commonwealth Government provided the Economic and Fiscal Update which detailed the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic on Australia’s economy and fiscal position as well as the support that has been provided to support the health system and cushion the blow for millions of households and businesses.

The update also details the assistance provided to Australians affected by the 2019‑20 bushfires.

The Government is providing economic support with $289 billion in fiscal and balance sheet measures, equivalent to around 14.6 per cent of GDP. This action, together with large declines in taxation receipts and increases in payments, has seen a major deterioration in the budget position, with estimated deficits of $85.8billion in 2019-20 and $184.5 billion in 2020-21.

To support the economic recovery, the Government is extending and further targeting temporary economic measures to support sectors, regions and communities that continue to face challenges.

The economic and fiscal outlook remains highly uncertain. The Government will provide forecasts and projections over the forward estimates period and medium term in the 2020-21 Budget, to be delivered on 6 October 2020.

The underlying cash deficit in 2019-20 is expected to be $85.8 billion (4.3 per cent of GDP), a $90.8 billion deterioration since the 2019-20 MYEFO. The estimate for 2020-21 has also been revised down significantly, with an expected deficit of $184.5 billion (9.7 per cent of GDP), a $190.6 billion deterioration since the 2019-20 MYEFO.

Worksafe Victoria - Face Coverings Guideline

The Victorian Chief Health Officer (CHO) has directed that all persons over 12 years old living in areas under coronavirus (COVID-19) Stage 3 Stay at Home Restrictions wear cloth or surgical face masks or face coverings outside of their home from 11.59pm on 22 July 2020 .

The Guidelines are viewable online and provides employers (across all industries) with information about face coverings.

AEN Video Conference Week - 24-28 August

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During National Skills Week (21-28 August), the AEN will host a series of free video conference presentations and interactive workshops to provide VET updates to our member network.

The AEN has scheduled 10 speakers from State and Federal Government and other industry stakeholders to provide updates via video conference.
Monday 24 August

10.00am - 11.30am







1.00pm - 2.00pm




Tuesday 25 August

10.00am - 11.00am




Wednesday 26 August

10.00am - 11.00am



1.00pm - 2.00pm




Thursday 27 August

10.00am - 11.00am





1.00pm - 2.00pm




Friday 28 August

10.00am - 11.00am


Carl Walsh - Manager, Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Engagement Participation & Inclusion Division - HESG
Department of Education and Training Victoria

Simon Smith & Diana McGowan
VRQA

Gary Workman - Executive Director
Apprenticeship Employment Network
AEN Industry Update (Including OH&S update)




Linda White - Assistant Secretary
Workforce and Apprenticeships Industry Branch
Australian Govt Department of Education, Skills and Employment



Peta Skujins - Director
AATIS

Gina Chinnery
Orygen
(Youth Mental Health in a COVID-19 Environment)





Grant Lovelock - Assistant Secretary
Tiffany Blight - Executive Director
National Careers Institute
Department of Education, Skills & Employment

Janet Nicholson
Worksight
(IR / Awards Update)





Prof. John Buchanan
Dr. Lisa Fowkes
(The impacts of COVID-19 and a way forward)
Registrations are now open.

NCVER Update

Apprentice and Trainee Completion and Attrition Rates 2019

Individual completion rates for apprentices and trainees who commenced training in 2015 have held relatively steady at 56.8% (down 0.4 percentage points from those commencing in 2014), according to new data.

The completion rates for individuals who commenced in trade occupations in 2015 were also relatively steady at 56.2% (up 0.5 percentage points from those commencing in 2014) and 57.7% for non-trade occupations (down 0.1 percentage points).

Completion and Attrition Rates for Apprentices and Trainees 2019 tracks apprentice and trainee outcomes from when they started their training through to December 2019, 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.

It also contains projected contract completion rates for those who started their apprenticeship or traineeship more recently, noting these projections will likely be impacted by the effects of COVID-19.
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Thanks to our Industry Partners

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