2010 Budget news regarding Australian Apprenticeships

12 May 2010

Apprentice Kickstart additional incentives available

The highly successful Kickstart Bonus has been renewed as the Apprentice Kickstart Extension
program. Details include:

• for commencements between 12 May 2010 and 12 November 2010
• for Australian Apprentices 19 years and under
• undertaking a Certificate III or IV level qualification that leads to a skills shortage trade occupation
• available to employers who are small or medium enterprises (i.e. employers with fewer than 200 employees) and Group Training Organisations listed on the Group Training national register
• $3,350 paid as $850 at the three month point and $2,500 at the nine month point in additional to the standard incentives of $4,000.

Innovation Commencement Incentive
The Innovation Commencement Incentive ceases for new commencement from 12 May 2010. Funding is being redirected to support emerging skills priorities identified in the Skills for Sustainable Growth package.

Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth
The Rudd Government will invest more than $660 million in training, apprenticeships and adult literacy and numeracy to ensure Australia has the skills it needs to support a growing economy. The four-year skills package will deliver:. The Skills for Sustainable Growth package is designed to respond quickly to skills hot spots emerging through the growing economy, boost the capability of our workforce now and in the longer term, and improve training in the vocational education sector.
For more information, visit http://www.treasurer.gov.au/displaydocs.aspx?doc=pressreleases/2010/039.htm&pageID=003&min=wms&Year=&DocType=0

Australians to receive a National Entitlement to a Quality Training Place
The Rudd Government will invest $243 million over the next four years to transform Australia's Vocational Education and Training (VET) system as part of the Skills for Sustainable Growth package. The National Entitlement to a Quality Training Place means that all young people under 25 years would have guaranteed access to a course that enables them to get a first qualification or to lift their qualifications to the next level. MySkills will also be linked to the new National VET Regulator.
Click here to view more information : http://www.deewr.gov.au/ministers/gillard/media/releases/pages/article_100511_172750.aspx

Critical Skills Investment Fund
The Rudd Labor Government will partner with industry to provide up to 39,000 new training places in sectors with emerging skill shortages including the infrastructure, construction, renewable energy and resource sectors.
The Government will invest over $200 million over four years to train job seekers and to up skill existing workers.

Funds will be allocated on a competitive basis, based on advice from an independent board. They will also be dependent on contributions from industry.

The new training positions created by the fund will help industry address emerging skill shortages. They will also provide jobseekers and existing workers with opportunities to benefit from and contribute to Australia’s economic recovery.

The fund will focus on helping mature-aged Australians secure new roles, and builds on the Productive Ageing package announced in February. 

The fund will also help job seekers and young people capitalise on employment opportunities offered by the infrastructure, construction, renewable energy and resource sectors.

Smarter Apprenticeships
The Australian Government will invest almost $20 million to support a fundamental shift from a time-served apprenticeship model to a competency-based system. Under this system, high-achieving apprentices who meet competency requirements will be able to reduce the length of their training. This model would increase the supply of skilled labour without jeopardising training quality. 

Over the last 50 years we have seen some of the traditional trades die out as new trades emerge. The Rudd Labor Government will create an apprenticeship system that produces highly skilled workers to meet current shortages and emerging industries and provides the foundation for a career.

An expert panel will also be appointed to advise on the steps needed to sustain and grow an Australian Apprenticeships system for the modern economy.

The panel will draw on the expertise of the National Centre for Vocational Education Research and leading industry bodies to examine apprenticeship training arrangements and suggest ways to help guide variations to apprenticeship pay.

These major skills investments are part of the Rudd Government’s plan to strengthen our economy and so we can take full advantage of the opportunities ahead for Australia.

Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth
The Rudd Government will invest more than $660 million in training, apprenticeships and adult literacy and numeracy to ensure Australia has the skills it needs to support a growing economy.

This major new investment in Australia’s skills is part of the Rudd Government’s plan to maximise the opportunities ahead so we can face the future with confidence.

The four-year skills package will deliver:

• up to 39,000 additional training places in sectors facing high skills demands through a $200 million investment in a new Critical Skills Investment fund
• support for around 22,500 new apprenticeship commencements through an $79.4 million extension of the successful Apprentice Kickstart aimed at small to medium businesses
• an offer to the States and Territories to provide a guaranteed entitlement to a training place for all Australians under the age of 25 years to ensure young people have every opportunity gain a qualification
• numeracy, literacy and language courses for up to 140,000 Australians to improve their quality of life, career prospects and productivity and
• better training for the 1.7 million Australians studying in the vocational training system.