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AE News Volume 15, Issue 9
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Upcoming Events
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5 Apr - IR & FC Network
6 Apr - Safe & Respectful Workplaces (GTO Field Officers)
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2 May - Youth Mental Health First Aid (Accredited)
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18 May - Emotional Intelligence Workshop
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24 May - Cultural Awareness Training - Intro to Islam
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Federal Budget Summary
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On Tuesday evening, the Federal Government released its 2022-23 budget.
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Please find below a summary of the key announcements around Apprenticeships and VET. No doubt the finer details will be released over the coming weeks/months.
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A regular pipeline of apprentices builds a highly skilled, more productive workforce allowing businesses to prosper. In this budget, the Government will invest a further $2.8 billion to support Australian apprenticeships, building on the $13.3 billion spent on apprenticeships and traineeships since 2013. The unemployment rate is expected to reach 3.75% in 2022 (a 50-year low).
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The Commonwealth and state and territory governments continue to work towards a new National Skills Agreement, which will provide each jurisdiction with a major boost in funding for skills training in priority areas. The funding boost under the new agreement will be a $3.7 billion increase to the current entitlement of states and territories, which has the capacity to deliver an additional 800,000 training places. A new agreement will increase transparency in the system and lower student fees, ensuring students are able to access high‑quality, cutting edge training to ensure they have the necessary skills for the jobs of the future.
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A new more generous apprenticeships incentive system for a stronger economy
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Building on the record investment of $13.3 billion in apprenticeships and traineeships since 2013, the Government is investing $2.8 billion over 5 years from 2021‑22 to upskill apprentices, including by introducing a new streamlined Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System, which will provide support to employers and apprentices.
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New streamlined Apprenticeship incentive system from 1 July 2022
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- Apprenticeships on the priority list will have up to $10,000 wage subsidy (up to $5000 year 1 and year 2).
- Apprentice training support payment of up to $5000 ($1250 every 6 months for the first 2 years).
- Apprentice support loans up to $15,246.
Further details to be released.
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The Government is also strengthening the skills pipeline by supporting more apprentices through their training.
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- An additional 2,500 in‑training support places for eligible young apprentices, and
- Expanding access to trade support loans to all priority occupations including aged care trainees.
ReBoot is expected to support 5,000 young Australians at high risk of becoming long‑term unemployed.
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The Government is investing $52.8 million to establish ReBoot and support Workforce Australia to create a pathway to employment for young Australians.
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ReBoot will build life and employment skills in disadvantaged young Australians, providing a pathway to employment by building confidence, discipline and capability. It will complement existing Government services such as:
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- Transition to Work ($1.4 billion investment over 5 years from 2021‑22), which has provided more than 147,000 young people with pre‑employment support since 2016
- Youth Jobs PaTH ($445 million investment over 5 years from 2021‑22), which has provided more than 139,000 young people with employability skills training, internships and job placements since its inception in 2017.
The National Workforce Strategy outlines a vision for a more dynamic, responsive and capable workforce to be realised through its guiding principles.
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The Strategy will inform and shape the development of workforce policy and sector‑specific strategies across Commonwealth agencies. The Strategy's three key areas of workforce policy:
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- Increasing workforce participation and economic security of women, Indigenous Australians and people with disability
- Ensuring a skilled workforce is available to support critical sovereign capability
- Growing and supporting the care and support workforce to meet the needs of the ageing population and people with disability.
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Support for regional areas
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Upskilling trainees with $405.7 million for regional apprenticeships and universities.
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Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) Program Extended Until 30 June 2022
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This week, the Federal Government announced an extension of the current Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) program until 30 June 2022.
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Any business that receives the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement (BAC) wage subsidy will also then be eligible for extended support through the Completing Apprenticeship Commencements (CAC) wage subsidy for the second and third year of a Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement supported apprenticeship.
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- 50 per cent of the eligible Australian Apprentice’s wages in the first year, capped at a maximum payment value of $7,000 per quarter per Australian Apprentice,
- 10 per cent of the eligible Australian Apprentice’s wages in the second year, capped at a maximum payment value of $1,500 per quarter per Australian Apprentice, and
- 5 per cent of the eligible Australian Apprentice’s wages in the third year, capped at a maximum payment value of $750 per quarter per Australian Apprentice.
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500 Trained Jobseekers to Ease Hospitality Staff Shortages
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This week, acting Premier James Melino and Minister Jaala Pulford announced a new program to be delivered by AEN members to support the hospitality sector. Five hundred jobseekers are being rapidly recruited and trained to support hospitality businesses facing current staff shortages.
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As part of the Victorian Government’s $200 million Business Stimulus Package, $6.68 million in Jobs Victoria funding will support workers to be trained for hospitality jobs with small to medium sized businesses.
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Recruitment starts this week and runs until September, creating jobs for people whose employment has been hardest hit by the pandemic including women over 45, people from multicultural backgrounds, Aboriginal people, people with disability and young people.
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Workers will receive 5 days paid hospitality training such as food handling, barista and responsible service of alcohol training, uniforms and tools of the trade.
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They will also get wrap around support throughout the program including mentoring to ensure they are supported to succeed on the job and set up for a new career in the hospitality industry.
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Small and medium-sized hospitality businesses urgently needing staff can access the pool of workers for roles with at least 20 hours of work per week and for up to 26 weeks to assist in managing staff shortages.
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Jobs Victoria is partnering with the AEN and their members that are coordinating training and placements of workers into jobs right across Victoria.
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Daniel Vidinovski, owner of Untitled, has experienced staff shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic and will look to fill bar and waitstaff positions at his venue in Richmond.
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It comes as the $60 million Victorian Dining and Entertainment Program – which offers consumers 25 per cent back on dining and entertainment purchases – starts today.
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The program is available to anyone with a valid Australian bank account, including Victorians, interstate travellers and international students. Each person can claim up to $125 in combined rebates for dining and entertainment. Rebates will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis until funds run out.
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Hospitality businesses looking for staff and jobseekers and want to participate in the initiative, can register their interest on the Jobs Victoria website.
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Nominations Now Open for the Victorian Training Awards
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Outstanding individuals and organisations in the TAFE and training sector can now be nominated for the Victorian Training Awards 2022.
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The prestigious event is now in its 68th year and recognises the achievements of apprentices, students, teachers, employers and training providers.
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There are six award categories for individuals, three for employers and four for training organisations as well as the Lynne Kosky Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Industry Collaboration Award and a People’s Choice Award.
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Winners will receive $5000 prize money and winners in some categories will have the opportunity to represent Victoria at the Australian Training Awards in Adelaide in November.
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Applications close at midnight on Saturday, 28 May 2022 and winners will be announced at a gala ceremony in Melbourne in September.
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The event is supported by principal partner Apprenticeship Employment Network (AEN) and the Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN Australia). For a complete list of sponsors, please visit Sponsors - Victorian Training Awards.
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New National Microcredentials Framework
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Recently, the Department of Education Skills and Employment (DESE) released a nationally consistent framework for defining microcredentials across higher education, vocational education, and industry.
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Retrenched Apprentices and Trainees Program
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Since the program commenced in May 2020, a total of 880 participants have been supported with 789 currently in training.
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Currently, there are 17 participants on our active caseload:
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- Electrical - 5
- Plumbing - 4
- Carpentry - 3
- Other trades - 3
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Apprentices and trainees who have lost employment are encouraged to register.
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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.
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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.
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Upcoming AEN Professional Development
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Safe Respectful Workplaces - GTO Field Officers
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Venue: AEN training room, 83 Hobsons Road, Kensington 3031
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Registrations close: 1 April 2022
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Youth Mental Health First Aid (Accredited)
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Self-paced interactive eLearning (7 hours) - completed before 29 April
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Instructor-led delivered in-person workshop on Monday 2 May, 10.30am - 3.30pm
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Venue: AEN training room, 83 Hobsons Road, Kensington (Monday 2 May)
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Registrations close: 8 April 2022
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Emotional Intelligence Workshop
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Managers, supervisors, team leaders and anyone with supervisory responsibilities.
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Venue: AEN training room, 83 Hobsons Road, Kensington
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Registrations close: 6 May 2022
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Cultural Awareness Training - Intro to Islam (online)
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Registrations close: 19 May 2022
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National Careers Institute Partnership Grants Round 3 – Grant Recipients
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Applications for round 3 of the National Careers Institute Partnership Grants generated a significant amount of interest, with more than 100 applications received. The Grants will provide 42 organisations with funding.
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NCVER Update
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Commencements in non-trade occupations drove most of the increase in September quarter 2021, rising by 13,435 (91.6%). Those in trade occupations increased by 8800 (74.5%).
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Completions also grew nationally to 18 400 (or by 9.9%) in the September quarter 2021 compared with the same quarter in 2020.
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This synthesis outlines the reasons for choosing and participating in VET programs delivered in secondary schools. The models of delivery; quality of delivery; the short and long-term outcomes from these programs and current knowledge gaps are also outlined.
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Findings show that secondary students who undertake VET programs at school get a head start on finding a job after school compared to their peers who do not.
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Participation in VET programs in school has remained relatively stable over the last 10 years, ranging from around 233,800 students in 2010 to 241,200 in 2020, with a peak of 257,100 in 2015. However, the proportion of young people undertaking school-based apprenticeships or traineeships in particular has remained at less than 10% for at least the last five years.
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Do you want to be kept up to date with everything that’s happening with GAN Australia and the wider VET sector?
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Thanks to our Industry Partners
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