Anne Griffiths, Education  Services Coordinator

Statistics on the take-up rate of Federal Government initiatives to support skills training indicate that few employers are aware of the funding support made available from 1 January 2007.  The Government believes that the Skills for the Future initiative will deliver more opportunities for Australians to gain new skills and help develop a more entrepreneurial workforce.  It also focuses on the need for continual upgrading of skills over the course of an individual’s working life. 

The package includes assistance for adults to gain literacy and numeracy skills which are basic requirements in the workplace.  It also provides financial incentives to help Australians looking to take up a trade apprenticeship in mid-career.  Apprentices in traditional trades will also receive support to help them gain the necessary skills to run their own business.  Employers can receive incentive payments of $1,500 for each employee commencing a Diploma or Advanced Diploma on the approved list and $2,500 when they complete.

Work Skills vouchers

People aged 25 years and over who do not have Year 12 or equivalent qualifications will be eligible for vouchers valued up to $3,000.  These can be used to assist them with the costs of studying Year 12 or equivalent courses, or vocational and technical education courses at Certificate 11 level, and improving literacy and numeracy.  Up to 30,000 vouchers will be provided each year.  The vouchers will be redeemable at public, private or community training providers.  Individuals are able to check their eligibility for a voucher through a telephone hotline 13 38 73 or through the website www.skillsvouchers.dest.gov.au

Support for mid-career apprentices

A challenge in up-skilling our current workforce is to reach people who do not currently have opportunities to retrain.   From 1 July 2007, workers over 30 who wish to upgrade their skills mid-career will attract new financial incentives to support their move from their current work to an apprenticeship at the Certificate 111 or 1V level in a trade occupation in high demand.

Those already in an apprenticeship in July 2007 will also be eligible.  The amount payable to either an employer or an apprentice will be set at $150 per week ($7,800 per annum) in the first year, and $100 per week ($5,200 per annum) in the second year.  As an apprentice becomes more skilled in their second year, their award wage will increase and the wage subsidy and apprentice payment can be reduced.

For further information contact Kirstyn McDougall at Employfast on 9365 7408 or email kirstyn.mcdougall@cciwa.com

Business Skills vouchers for apprentices

Employers want their employees to be flexible and adaptive, with a broad skill base.  It is also recognised that the opportunity to undertake specialised business courses will add an extra dimension to the skills of qualified tradespeople.  Business Skills Vouchers valued up to $500 are now available to apprentices each year to contribute towards the costs of accredited business skills training.  The Government is promoting this initiative to all eligible apprentices this week, so anyone interested should call the hotline on 13 38 73 to find out if they are eligible.

Incentives for higher technical skills

There is increasing demand from industry for higher level technical qualifications, driven by technological changes and an increasing reliance on knowledge-based jobs.  From January 1 2007, the existing Australian Apprenticeship Incentives Program has been extended in three significant ways to support training at Diploma and Advanced Diploma levels:

• removing the rule which prevents workers with prior qualifications from attracting incentives;
• opening the program to an employer's existing workforce, not just new employees, and; 
• increasing the range of eligible level qualification, particularly in engineering.

The following is the complete list, valid at 2 March 2007, of the Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications which are eligible to attract employer incentives payments, for employers of Australian Apprentices, under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme:

CHC0S - Community Services Training Package

CHC50202 - Diploma of Out of School Hours Care

CHC50302 - Diploma of Children's Services

CHC60202 - Advanced Diploma of Children’s Services

HLT02 - Health Training Package

HLT50502 - Diploma of Dental Technology

HLT60402 - Advanced Diploma of Dental Prosthetics

HLT07 - Health Training Package

HLT50507 - Diploma of Dental Technology

HLT60407 - Advanced Diploma of Dental Prosthetics

MEM05 - Metal and Engineering Training Package

MEM50105 - Diploma of Engineering - Advanced Trade

MEM50205 - Diploma of Engineering - Technical

MEM60105 - Advanced Diploma of Engineering

PML04 - Laboratory Operations Training Package

PML50104 - Diploma of Laboratory Technology

PML60104 - Advanced Diploma of Laboratory Operations

RII06 - Civil Construction Training Package

RII50106 - Diploma of Civil Construction Management

RII50206 - Diploma of Civil Construction Design

RII60106 - Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Management

RII60206 - Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design

UTE99 - Electrotechnology Industry Training Package

UTE50299 - Diploma of Electrical Engineering

UTE60299 - Advanced Diploma of Electrical Engineering

UEE06 - Electrotechnology Training Package

UEE50406 - Diploma of Electrical Engineering

UEE60106 - Advanced Diploma of Electrical Engineering

UEP06 - Electricity Supply Industry - Generation Sector Training Package

UEP50406 - Diploma of ESI Generation (Electrical / Electronics)

On 1 January 2007, the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme was updated to enable more employers to claim incentives under the programme. Employers of Australian Apprentices undertaking one of the above Diploma or Advanced Diploma qualifications may now be eligible to attract incentives where:

• the Australian Apprentice has previously attained a qualification at the Certificate I, II, III or IV level, or;
• the Australian Apprentice is an existing employee.

For further information contact Kirsten at Employfast on 9365 7408 or email kirstyn.mcdougall@cciwa.com or visit www.skillsforthefuture.gov.au