Apprenticeship Employment Network

AEN Newsletter - 16 May 2025


May
GTO Managers Meeting & IR/FC Network Meeting
Coaching & Mentoring for Growth

June
OHS Network Meeting
Trade & Tech Fit Career Expo
Adopting Mindful Living & Working

New Federal Government Ministry

Following the election win by Labor, this week the Government announced its new ministry

The Labor Government retained the frontline team of Defence Minister Mr Marles, Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and Trade Minister Don Farrell.

Other ministers keeping their portfolios include:
  • Andrew Giles - Skills and Training
  • Malarndirri McCarthy - Indigenous Australians
  • Tony Burke - Home affairs
  • Mark Butler - Health
  • Chris Bowen - Energy
  • Jason Clare - Education
  • Clare O'Neil - Housing
Key changes to the ministry include:
  • Michelle Rowland will become Australia's new attorney-general, taking over from Mark Dreyfus.
  • Mark Butler will remain as health minister but also pick up the NDIS portfolio.
  • Amanda Rishworth will become the employment and workplace relations minister.
  • Tanya Plibersek will become the new social services minister.
  • Anne Aly has been promoted to cabinet and will take on the small business, international development and multicultural affairs portfolio.
  • Murray Watt will become environment minister.
  • Tim Ayers has been promoted to cabinet as science, industry and innovation minister.
The Apprenticeship Employment Network looks forward to working with Minister Giles on the skills and Training portfolio.

For more information visit Ministerial Arrangements.

National Liberal Party

This week the National Liberal party completed a reshuffle of the shadow ministry with Sussan Ley now the Leader of the Opposition, and also covering Shadow Minister for Women, Shadow Minister for Industry, Skills and Training, Shadow Minister for Small and Family Business.

Other key announcements include:

Ted O’Brien - Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Shadow Minister for Energy Affordability and Reliability

Michaelia Cash - Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Shadow Attorney-General, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

Anne Ruston - Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Shadow Minister for Sport

Angie Bell - Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education, Shadow Minister for Youth

Darren Chester - Shadow Minister for Regional Education, Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Shadow Minister for Local Government and Territories

David Littleproud - Leader of the Nationals, Shadow Minister for Agriculture,

Angus Taylor - Shadow Treasurer

Bridget McKenzie - Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development

Dan Tehan - Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship

For more information visit Liberal Party of Australia.
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is observed from 27 May to 3 June each year in Australia.

It is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation.

The theme for 2025 is "Bridging Now to Next," inviting reflection on our shared past and collaboration towards a united future.

This week encourages participation in various activities to promote understanding and respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

About the theme
The National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2025 theme, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future.

Bridging Now to Next calls on all Australians to step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us.

In the #NRW2025 theme artwork created by Kalkadoon woman Bree Buttenshaw, native plants which are known for regenerating after fire and thriving through adversity symbolise the collective strength and the possibilities of renewal. This is a time for growth, reflection, and commitment to walking together.

For more information visit National Reconciliation Week.

AiGroup Award-Winning Degree Apprenticeship ‘the Future of Training’

Australia’s first formal degree apprenticeship exemplifies the value of work-based learning and the tremendous benefit to both learners and industry.

At a webinar last week exploring the development of the award-winning Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship in South Australia, panelists praised the contextual learning the program offers apprentices and the edge it gives employers.

Webinar host Caroline Smith, Executive Director of the Ai Group Centre for Education and Training (Ai Group CET), said: “The apprentice is applying daily what they learn at university, which helps to build understanding more quickly than just learning theory.

“Apprentices also benefit by learning from experts in the field.

“They get to build a resume showing years of relevant work experience, develop a network of colleagues and get paid while studying.

“Employers benefit as they can hire someone directly from school, giving them a head start over other organisations looking for second or third-year university students to take on as interns or looking to hire graduates.

“The employer gets to shape the learning of the student by providing their workplace’s context, and by the time those apprentices graduate, they have years of work experience under their belt.

“They know the organisation well; they know where they fit and where they might progress within the organisation.

“They're going to be far more productive than a recent graduate, because they've got that context and five years’ experience.”

Long and proud tradition

The apprenticeship system in Australia has a long and proud tradition and has successfully trained many thousands of Australians across a range of industries over many years.

The Australian Industry Group has been a strong advocate for exploring ways to expand the apprenticeship model beyond the traditional trade area, to provide opportunities for work-based learning in new fields.

“The degree-level apprenticeship is one way the education and training system can respond to the pace and extent of change to the skills needed in our economy,” Dr Smith said.

“Increasingly, the skills needed extend across the traditional divide between the skills and hands-on experience developed traditionally through VET and the knowledge developed through higher education.”

Other successful models of higher and degree apprenticeships in Australia developed with the support of Ai Group include:
For more information visit Ai Group.

Industry Accelerated Apprenticeship Pilot

South Australia is taking bold steps to build a stronger pipeline of skilled workers to deliver the state’s major infrastructure projects by fast-tracking apprenticeships in key trades through a new pilot program launching in 2026.

The Industry Accelerated Apprenticeship Pilot (IAAP) is an Australian-first and will support up to 1,000 new apprenticeships across seven critical trade pathways.

South Australia’s construction sector is facing significant workforce shortages, particularly in trades such as carpentry, civil construction, and plastering. Planning by the Department of State Development shows the state will need an estimated 78,000 additional vocational qualifications over the next five years to meet forecast demand.

The pilot has been designed to meet the demands from projects including the Torrens to Darlington, the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital, new housing, and defence initiatives such as AUKUS.

The program focuses on seven high-demand trades: carpentry, cookery, painting, civil construction, plant operations, mechanical engineering, and fabrication engineering. It builds on South Australia’s existing flexible apprenticeship framework, which already allows early completion in some trades.

Training will be tailored to real-world job requirements, with intensive on-the-job learning and quality assurance from Group Training Organisations (GTOs).

The following pathways will be shortened:
  • Certificate III in Carpentry, will go from 48 to 36 months
  • Certificate III in Commercial Cookery, which includes roles such as cook and chefs, will go from 48 to 30 months
  • Certificate III in Painting and Decorating, will go from 48 to 36 months
  • Certificate III in Civil Construction, which includes roles such as site construction worker, road paver and builder and tunnel constructor, will go from 36 to 18 months
  • Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations, which includes roles like excavator, grader, pipelayer and earthmoving plant operator, will go from 36 to 18 months
  • Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade, which includes roles like welders, boilermakers and sheet metal workers, will go from 48 to 36 months
  • Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade, which includes roles like mechanical fitters, fitters and turners and toolmakers will go from 48 to 36 months
For more information visit South Australian Skills Commission.
Box Hill Institute is offering fee-free Microcredential in Cloud Enabled Infrastructures and Services, designed for IT professionals seeking expertise in cloud technologies.

This course is based on AWS Academy Cloud Foundations and Cloud Architecting, preparing you for AWS certification exams while building job-ready skills.

Why Enrol?
  • Develop practical skills with AWS services like EC2, S3, and RDS.
  • Gain essential knowledge in cloud security, scalability, and architecture best practices.
  • Flexible learning with two weekly sessions over 16 weeks.
  • Fully online with practical assessments and presentations.
  • Aligns with AWS Cloud Practitioner and Solutions Architect certifications.
Limited Places Available - August Intake.

Join industry professionals in mastering cloud technologies for career advancement.

For more information visit Box Hill Institute.
Every May, National Careers Week is your one-stop shop for exploring career education, information and guidance.

It connects you with fantastic resources and events to help you achieve your dream job.

National Careers Week has something for you, whether you’re just starting out, looking for a change, or upskilling for the ever-evolving job market.

What is National Careers Week?

Discover the transformative power of National Careers Week, brought to you by the Career Industry Council of Australia.

This exciting initiative celebrates the vibrant world of careers, shining a spotlight on career development, essential services, and the dedicated professionals who guide you on your journey.

Join in to highlight the incredible economic, social, and personal benefits that effective career development brings to all Australians.

Whether you’re taking your first steps or climbing the career ladder, National Careers Week is here to inspire and empower your future success.

The objectives of National Careers Week are to:
  • Develop community awareness of the concept, benefit, and value of career development.
  • Raise aspirations, challenge stereotypes, and broaden horizons about careers.
  • Highlight the need for ongoing reskilling and upskilling to support careers throughout life.
  • Identify the changing nature of work and its impact on all Australians.
  • Showcase industries and the career opportunities available in them.
  • Provide opportunities to partner with key stakeholders.
For more information visit National Careers Week.
Do you know an individual or organisation making outstanding contributions to Australia's vocational education and training (VET) and skills sector?

The Australian Training Awards are the peak national awards that showcase best practice in VET.
Finalists will compete for a national title alongside State and Territory Training Award winners at the Australian Training Awards gala event later this year.

Nominations close Saturday 31 May.

For more information and to nominate visit Australian Training Awards.

2025 Events

Coaching and Mentoring for Growth

In today’s fast-paced work environment, effective coaching and mentoring are essential for managers, supervisors, team leaders, and field officers. By facilitating meaningful conversations with purpose and poise, they can unlock new horizons for their mentees and foster growth in individuals and teams to boost performance and create a strong foundation for future leadership.

In this engaging workshop, award-winning facilitator Martin Probst will equip you with the essential tools and strategies to confidently coach, mentor, and guide others toward long-term success.

Date: Wednesday 28 May 2025
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Delivery: ONLINE ONLY

Adopting Mindful Living and Working

Uncover how living in the moment builds a richer and more meaningful life, career, and relationships. Explore how to be more present and purposeful in your decisions and actions, rather than reactive or on autopilot.

In this interactive session, led by Martin Probst, a leading expert in human-centred leadership, we will explore how ‘stepping back’ and ‘stepping into’ experiences can open your mind to curiosity, creativity, and effectiveness.

Date: Wednesday 18 June 2025
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Delivery: In Person ONLY

Embracing the Art of Networking

Successful individuals understand that their network is their net worth and that extraordinary outcomes are achieved through strong relationships and collaboration. By establishing interpersonal connections, we build the foundation for success.

This interactive session, led by award-winning facilitator Martin Probst, will deepen your understanding of professional networking and boost your confidence to connect and build robust relationships. You’ll learn how to leverage your network to enhance growth and create win-win opportunities.

Date: Wednesday 9 July 2025
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Delivery: In Person ONLY
Apprenticeships
Since the program commenced in May 2020, a total of 1,316 participants have been supported to date, with 82% being male and 18% female.
For Individuals
Apprentices and trainees who have lost employment are encouraged to register.

Once registered, 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.
For Businesses
If you have an apprenticeship 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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