Four organisations will have their share in $495,000 in a bid by the Queensland Government to grow the number of apprentices across the state and ensure it has the skilled workers it needs for the future.
Acting Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development, The Honourable Mark Ryan, said apprenticeships and traineeships set people up for lifelong careers and are vital for growing the Queensland workforce.
“All four organisations will match the investment, resulting in almost $1 million towards promoting apprenticeship programs across their industries throughout Queensland,” he said.
The successful recipients are the National Electrical Contractors Association, HGT Australia Ltd (Novaskill), Smart Employment Solutions and the National Retail Association.
Through the money, Mr Ryan said the National Electrical Contractors Association will capitalise on the growth in electrical trades, including the emerging industry subsectors like electrotechnology.
HGT Australia Ltd (Novaskill) are set to promote apprenticeships across a variety of industries through a wide-ranging multimedia marketing campaign, aimed at motivating apprenticeship sign-ups through various multimedia and social media platforms.
Smart Employment Solutions, on the other hand, will focus on carpentry, electrical and engineering pathways.
“These combined activities will see a promotional campaign over the next 12 months to encourage awareness and the benefits of apprenticeships, not only to students and job seekers but to employers as well,” the Minister said.
The government’s Advancing Apprentices Fund (AAF) is providing up to $1 million in 2018–19 to support activities and campaigns to increase the number of businesses taking on apprentices in Queensland.
In 2018 the AAF allocated round one funding to the three industry groups – Restaurant and Catering ($236,000), Hardware Australia ($40,540) and the Apprentice Employer Network ($50,000).
Advancing Apprentices Fund – 2nd round successful recipients are:
- Smart Employment Solutions $68,500 (plus industry $68,500 = $137,000)
- National Retail Association $118,000 (plus industry $120,000 = $238,000)
- National Electrical Contractors Association $277,500 (plus industry $277,500 = $555,000)
- HGT Australia Ltd (Novaskill) $31,000 (plus industry $31,000 = $62,000)
Industry groups, peak bodies and businesses are still being encouraged to apply to the fund.
More information on the AAF can be found here.