Up to 2,000 young Australians will be given the opportunity to explore various apprenticeship career options with a new pilot project launched in Ringwood today.
The Australian Government is supporting the Multi industry school based and pre-apprenticeship support pilot project with a $6.82 million grant. The Apprenticeship Employment Network in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania will deliver the pilot over two years.
In launching the pilot today, Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, Senator the Hon Scott Ryan said it will target up to 1,000 secondary school students as well as up to 1,000 young people who have already left school and are looking for work.
“This pilot project will provide young people the opportunity to ‘test out’ an Australian Apprenticeship and give them hands-on experience across a range of industries,” Minister Ryan said.
The pilot will provide young Australians in both metropolitan and regional areas with real vocational experience in the building and construction, engineering and automotive, land and food, and business and services industries through a series of short-term work experience placements.
“Employers have repeatedly identified the need for more work-ready apprentices to facilitate apprentice recruitment and improve retention rates. This pilot will ensure more young people have the necessary language, literacy, numeracy and work readiness skills needed to succeed in training or employment,”
Minister Ryan said that the Multi industry school based and pre-apprenticeship support pilot project builds on the Government’s commitment to current and prospective Australian apprentices and their employers.
“Unlike the previous Labor government who oversaw the biggest cuts in funding to this area, the Coalition Government has guaranteed support to those undertaking an apprenticeship with $889.1 million through the Trade Support Loans and $933 million through the Australian Apprenticeships Support Network,” Minister Ryan said.
For more information please visit http://aen.org.au/multi-industry-school-based-pre-apprenticeship-support-project/.