- Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills
Raising the status of apprenticeships, highlighting their value and improving the system are the keys to reinvigorating Australia’s apprenticeships.
Speaking today to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) Forum in Canberra, Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills Karen Andrews said the future of Australian Apprenticeships remains bright.
“Data from NCVER shows that over 84 per cent of Australian apprentices are employed once they finish training,” Minister Andrews said.
“Employment outcomes for trade apprentices are particularly strong, with over 90 per cent of graduates remaining employed after training.
“So my message is simple: you don’t need to go to university to have a fulfilling career, because an Australian Apprenticeship can take you there.”
Minister Andrews said while apprenticeship commencements and completions had declined since Labor took more than $1 billion from employer incentive payments in its final two years of government, Australian apprenticeships remained a vital pathway to jobs and careers in areas of skills shortage.
Australia’s apprenticeship system was world class in many ways, “but that doesn’t mean it can’t be better and we can’t learn from discussing new ideas,” Mrs Andrews said.
The Turnbull Government’s investment of $9.2 million to test alternative ways to train apprentices through five pilot projects will explore innovative and flexible ways to evolve Australia’s apprenticeship system.
“The pilot projects have bought together some of the leading players in the area of VET, including AiG, Siemens and Swinburne University of Technology, to give participants an opportunity to test higher level qualification-based apprenticeships – or ‘higher apprenticeships’,” Mrs Andrews said.
Minister Andrews said it was incumbent on the Australian Government to work with training providers and industry to deliver the reforms that will help shape the future of Australian Apprenticeships and continue to build Australia’s economic future.