May 2011

Supporting Apprentices to build Australia's future

The Australian Government will invest more than $200 million over four years to boost apprentice completion rates and provide enhanced mentoring services to support apprentices during their training.

The $201 million investment is part of the Building Australia's Future Workforce package, and will be divided into two projects:

1. $100 million to invest in initiatives to ensure that apprentices progress through training as they demonstrate the required competencies, rather than on a time served basis. This will result in:

  • Apprenticeindustry being able to provide training customised to the needs of individual apprentices so they can move more quickly through their training and advance to the next level of learning and pay
  • apprentices who have gained skills on the job will be able to have their skills recognised so they can gain higher qualifications quickly, provided quality requirements are met
  • model clauses being introduced into awards to enable apprentices who progress based on their skills to receive higher first and second year wages.

2. $101 million for a national mentoring apprenticeship package to assist apprentice candidates in choosing the right trade for them, and provide targeted mentoring and assistance that will help up to 40,000 Australian Apprentices successfully progress through their training.

The Australian Government will also help support school leavers considering an apprenticeship through Apprenticeship Advisers to assist them in choosing their career path.

For more information, visit www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/Budget2011.asp 

This page was generated on 30 May, 2011

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