Apprenticeship Office news and updates

Pre-apprenticeships are a valuable pathway into an apprenticeship program. Vocational education and training (VET) students are able to get hands on work experience in their intended field of study by undertaking a Certificate II level pre-apprenticeship, which offers a pathway to a full apprenticeship, or to employment, through a combination of training and work practice.

In a pre-apprenticeship, the registered training organisation (RTO) works with an employer to ensure the student is able to undertake meaningful tasks that contribute to their workplace skills. In circumstances where a real work placement is not possible, such as due to COVID-19 pandemic closures or where there are safety concerns, the RTO may organise simulated work practice for the pre-apprentice.

The WA Pre-apprenticeship Program Business Rules were recently updated following an extensive consultation with key stakeholders. The updated business rules encourage the use of real work placements with an employer, but also offer flexibility in the work practice component. The new work practice requirements are:

• a minimum of 150 hours of work practice (previously 50% of the nominal contact hours); and
• the work practice can be undertaken through work placements, simulated work practice or a combination of both (previously a minimum of 50% of the work practice had to be undertaken in a real workplace).

The new business rules and lists of current pre-apprenticeships are available from our website at dtwd.wa.gov.au/pa-guide.

New guide for industry and RTOs

The Department has produced a new guide for industry and RTOs on how to seek approval to establish a new pre-apprenticeship program.

View the new Guide to establishing a pre-apprenticeship pathway at dtwd.wa.gov.au/pa-guide

If you are looking for more information on pre-apprenticeships, please contact the Department’s Apprenticeship and Traineeship Policy team by email at apprenticeshippolicy@dtwd.wa.gov.au.

For secondary school students

A fact sheet explaining the benefits of the pre-apprenticeships in schools program, and a list of pre-apprenticeships in schools courses, are available on the Jobs and Skills WA website at jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/training/schools-and-school-students.

Minister for Education and Training Sue Ellery has today launched a new free online platform to connect job ready workers with the growing list of job opportunities available with Western Australian employers.

The new platform — Job Ready Connect — will connect jobseekers with employers. The platform guides graduates through the creation of an online profile highlighting their skills, experience, qualifications and accreditations; without the need for a resume. Employers are able to register for free on Job Ready Connect, to easily and securely search for and connect with candidates who have the skills and experience they require. Job Ready Connect is exclusively available to Job Ready program graduates and participating WA employers.

Job Ready Connect is now available at jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/jobreadyconnect

Job Ready programs were introduced by the WA State Government as part of a suite of training initiatives through Jobs and Skills WA, designed to support stimulus measures and WA’s economic recovery following COVID-19. The programs are designed to provide participants with the entry level skills and the industry experience employers are looking for in key industry areas. With Job Ready programs currently offered in Ageing and Disability, Bricklaying, and Civil Construction (Infrastructure), graduates of these programs will be the first users of the new Job Ready Connect platform. Employers in these sectors are encouraged to register their details to start connecting with job ready candidates who are motivated to gain work and further skills in these areas.

Find out more about Job Ready programs here

“The McGowan Government’s investment in infrastructure projects is supporting the State’s economic recovery and creating a pipeline of work and jobs for Western Australians.“ said the Minister today. "Job Ready Connect will take the new training pathways to employment provided by the Job Ready program a step further, helping graduates find jobs with employers. With opportunities to work in key sectors growing across metropolitan and regional WA, it’s a great time for Job Ready graduates to connect with employers and get to work.” 

Read the Minister's full media statement here

The McGowan Labor Government has today announced new initiatives to maintain Western Australia’s strong economic growth and strengthen its local workforce.

Premier Mark McGowan and Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery have today announced a Western Australia 2021 Skills Summit for June 30, to meet with leaders across a number of sectors including the resources, defence, construction and healthcare industries. The aim of the summit is to hear from some of WA’s business leaders on what more can be done collaboratively, and more immediately, to address existing skills needs across sectors to ensure the WA workforce can continue to advance the State and keep WA globally competitive in the coming years.

The WA State Government has already invested heavily into training, including cutting TAFE fees to make re-skilling more affordable, and is delivering the biggest TAFE infrastructure build in WA history. “Our management of COVID-19 has provided confidence throughout our economy, which now presents short-term challenges associated with workforce pressures.“ says Premier Mark McGowan. "Building a sustainable local workforce that can meet our immediate and long term skills needs, and support our big pipeline of economic activity, is a key issue that required industry and government to work together. Creating high quality jobs and training Western Australians to do them is the centrepiece of our State’s strong economic recovery and I am looking forward to sitting down with leaders from a range of areas to make sure we can continue to do this.”

Also announced today is a new program offering a fast track to an apprenticeship for local construction workers. The pilot Construction Accelerated Apprenticeship Program (CAAP) offers construction workers without formal qualifications the opportunity to have their existing skills recognised, cutting the time required to get an apprenticeship. It is the latest in a number of McGowan Government measures ensuring WA has a pipeline of skilled workers, including:

• Lower fees, local skills – slashed TAFE fees by up to 72 per cent on 180 courses;
• a record $167.4 million investment in upgrades to TAFE infrastructure across the five WA TAFE colleges as part of the WA Recovery Plan;
• free skill set short courses to upskill thousands of Western Australians; and
• $4.8 million for the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Re-engagement Incentive, providing financial support to employers who take on a displaced apprentice or trainee.

For more information about CAAP and other initiatives, visit the Jobs and Skills WA website

Read the full media statement here

‘The other force’ — a new campaign to raise awareness of the job opportunities and career pathways available in Western Australia’s defence industry — was launched today. The campaign aims to inspire women, veterans, young people, jobseekers and career changers to take advantage of job opportunities available.

Promoting the diverse, exciting and secure jobs offered by the defence industry is an important part of building the skilled workforce needed to support upcoming defence projects and secure future defence work, expected to be valued at up to $75 billion nationally over the next decade.

The campaign is complemented by the establishment of five new defence industry skill sets, which will contribute to a 'defence ready' workforce to bolster WA’s defence industry and support maritime defence contracts. The new $3.3 million package was developed in consultation with industry to meet industry skill demand, and courses are available through South Metropolitan TAFE. The campaign and new skill sets were presented to an industry forum held with key employers and stakeholders including Austal, Civmec, ASC West, Defence Primes, BAE Systems, Henderson Alliance, Naval Ship Management and the Naval Shipbuilding College.

Matilda Hobbins, third year South Metropolitan TAFE marine fabrication apprentice, stars in the advertising campaign and encourages others to embark on a rewarding career in defence manufacturing. Employed as a marine fabricator at Austal, the 25 year old says she has been well supported as a woman in a male-dominated industry and there is nothing like working with your hands and seeing your individual contribution come together to build a ship. 

In addition to the five new skill sets, the campaign will also highlight several other initiatives including:

• $8.5 million for incentives of $20,000 for defence manufacturing industry employers to train apprentices in key trades;
• $2.85 million to train an additional 335 apprenticeships in nominated trades; 
• investment in training scholarships for women and defence veterans; and
• defence industry training facilities upgrades at South Metropolitan TAFE.

For further information about the defence initiatives, please visit the Jobs and Skills WA website at jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/defence

A new short course is now available: the Bricklaying Job Ready program. It was developed in consultation with the Construction Training Fund and key industry partners including HIA, MBA and ABN Group, will create a pipeline of qualified bricklayers to meet the needs of WA’s building industry.

Students will complete the Work Safely in Construction short course skill set, which teaches work safety practices, basic measuring and calculation skills, and how to operate small plant and equipment used on building and construction projects — through a mix of on-campus training and work placement with industry employers. The program is free for concession-eligible students including jobseekers and people aged 15—24. Non-eligible participants will need to pay a fee. On completion of the course, students will have the opportunity to start a bricklaying apprenticeship with a participating employer.

The pilot program will be delivered by North Metropolitan TAFE, South Metropolitan TAFE, and private training provider Skill Hire. The program will be reviewed at the completion of the first course with a view to it being expanded to regional WA. Employers who sign up to the program will be able to access State and Australian Government incentives and wage subsidies.

Applications for the course are now open — with 50 places available for the first intake scheduled to start on November 9, 2020. Register your interest by emailing BricklayingJobReady@dtwd.wa.gov.au.