Over $3 billion for skills done and dusted

There are still butchers and bakers a plenty. Vehicle painters, however, have mostly replaced candlestick makers. And there will likely soon be more of them, thanks to a new agreement.

The government’s $1.5 billion Skilling Australians Fund, which will deliver 300,000 new apprenticeships over five years, was recently signed on to by five state and territory governments. NSW, the ACT, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory will match the Fund, dollar for dollar, on a pro rata basis.

“In many parts of Australia there are severe shortages of apprentices to take up positions that are going begging,” the National Apprentice Employment Network and its relevant state and territory counterparts provided in a statement.

“We will work with stakeholders to bring forward worthwhile projects that will be eligible for funding under the scheme…”

Because states and territories signed the agreement by the Commonwealth government’s deadline, it will furnish the Fund with an additional $50 million.

“It has taken time to get the scheme off the ground, but we should be assured that once it is up and running, there will be a renewed interest in projects that help to build skills in critical parts of the economy,” TAFE Directors Australia CEO Craig Robertson said.

Currently, skills shortages exist in the healthcare, IT and professional services sectors.

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