Apprenticeship Office news and updates

A new course list has been launched on the Jobs and Skills website today, with a range of new features and functionality to make your course search easy.

With over 700 courses listed on the website, this is great news for anyone looking for a skill set, course or qualification to get skills ready for that new job or career move. With the new course search, you can now:

• search quickly and easily for free courses, and qualifications with course fees reduced by half or more;
• find courses with specific training options, such as apprenticeships and traineeships;
• find qualifications that are available as VET programs for secondary school students, including school-based apprenticeships and traineeships;
• search quickly and easily for courses in particular industry and study areas; and
• search for and view course information more easily on your mobile device.

We have also added a ‘favourites’ option, so that you can tag courses that you’re interested in and add them to your own personal list. You can then come back and view the courses on your list at any time, rather than have to search for them again.

Each course now opens on its own website page, where we have made information about the course, the TAFE colleges and private training providers who deliver it and the occupations the course aligns with easier to view.

Last but not least; you can now share a course page on your own social media channel, if you want to let family and friends know what you’re studying or about a course you’re interested in.

Take a look: jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/course-list 

The State Government has joined with Western Australia's civil construction industry to establish a new pilot program to increase the number and quality of new workers entering the sector. This pilot program will help build a skilled local workforce in civil construction industry to support the State Government's $13 billion commitment to civil infrastructure projects over the next four years.

Under the program specific civil construction qualifications in WA are changing from a traineeship to an apprenticeship, extending training from 24 months to 36 months with the aim of improving skills and employment opportunities. The move will result in the first cohort of civil construction apprentices, who will receive a trade certificate on completion of their Certificate III qualification, boosting qualified civil construction trades.

Funded by the Construction Training Fund (CTF) and developed in conjunction with the Civil Contractors Federation WA (CCFWA) and Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), the $5.99 million program will cover a wage gap created by the transition, ensuring employers and apprentices are not disadvantaged by the transition to the new qualifications.
 

• A wage subsidy of up to $14,000 will be provided to employers who employ junior apprentices (under 21), and there will also be wage gap funding for 50 direct employment mature age civil construction apprenticeships.
• The CTF has also increased its base grant for employers from $8,000 to $10,000.

The CTF apprenticeship support grant is available to eligible employers, and is intended to cover the costs incurred by the employment and training of an apprentice during the term of the training contract. Throughout the four-year pilot program, it is anticipated that around 250 junior apprentice wages will be subsidised and more than 1,200 new apprentices are expected to commence in the civil construction sector.

For more information, please read the CCPP FAQs available at dtwd.wa.gov.au/apprenticeship-office#useful-fact-sheets or at ctf.wa.gov.au.

Announcing the pilot program today, Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery said “The McGowan Government is committed to building a skilled local workforce. This program will improve the quality of training in civil construction while creating robust career pathways into the industry and ensure a pipeline of junior and mature age qualified apprentices. This initiative was developed extensively with industry, and will go a long way in assisting the civil construction industry to train employees and deliver on key civil infrastructure projects.”
 

Read the full media statement here

Western Australia's Great Southern region is today hosting the last of a series of 10 Regional Skills Summits that have been hosted around WA by the State Government since August 2021. Strong industry representation throughout the Regional Skills Summits has seen total attendance for the series reach more than 350, and this final event fulfils the State Government's commitment to take their skills summits statewide before Christmas.

Local business and government leaders met today to generate innovative ideas and practical actions to grow the skilled workforce in the Great Southern region, with around 40 people from a range of sectors attending — including the Great Southern region’s biggest employing industries of agriculture, forestry and fishing; healthcare and social assistance; retail; education and training; and construction. Insights from today's summit will form the basis of a local action plan to meet the region’s unique workforce needs.

Recognising the importance of training to build a skilled workforce and retain people in regional areas, the State Government has been working to ensure its investment in training initiatives reaches all corners of the State.

• Great Southern locals are snapping up affordable training opportunities offered through the State Government’s Lower fees, local skills (LFLS) initiative, with a 17 per cent increase in LFLS enrolments in the region this year
• Employers have responded by taking on more apprentices and trainees in the region in 2021, with commencements up by more than 98 per cent in the 12 months to 30 September 2021

The State Government recently expanded the LFLS program by a further 30 courses from 2022, to include a total of 210 courses with heavily reduced course fees in priority industry areas including hospitality, healthcare, construction, retail and others. Workers in industries which have a critical need to upskill workers – including childcare, aged and disability care, and civil construction – will be able to access low fee existing worker traineeship places to help meet the skills needs of these sectors.

The new initiatives respond to workforce issues raised by industry leaders at the Perth and regional skills summits held to date, and are jointly funded through a $103.5 million agreement between the State and Commonwealth governments under the expanded JobTrainer Fund agreement. Other initiatives progressing from the Perth Skills Summit include:

• attracting onshore skilled migrants to fill jobs in demand in WA;
• supporting mature age apprentices;
• promoting the tourism and hospitality industry to school students to grow the workforce;
• extending the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Reengagement Incentive;
• freezing regional Government rental accommodation to attract public sector workers to the regions; and
• boosting Aboriginal youth employment opportunities.

The State Government is also providing support for jobseekers experiencing disadvantage to obtain a driver’s licence; progressing targeted advertising campaigns to attract interstate workers and increase participation of under-represented groups in WA; has smoothed the pipeline of construction work; and run the series of 10 Regional Skills Summits wrapping up in Albany today.  Fostering strong links between regional TAFE colleges and government, industry and the education sector, the VET Regional Partnerships Program also continues to grow. With a focus on creating more apprenticeships and traineeships in regional WA, the Program supports the Government’s plan to increase the number of jobs in regional WA by 30,000.

“Today’s Regional Skills Summit in Albany completes a thorough, state-wide examination of the unique skills needs of regional WA.“ said Eduation and Training Minister Sue Ellery. "Our Government has now heard directly from industries across the State about their ideas to increase the capability of their local workforces and to fill local jobs.”.

Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens said "I am really pleased to be hosting the final Skills Summit here in Albany. Having worked as a training and careers manager before entering Parliament, I know that it is critical for business to work alongside government and the broader community to ensure we have enough local people to fill local jobs.".
 

Read the full media statement here

Local business and government leaders are meeting in Mandurah today to generate innovative ideas and practical actions to grow the skilled workforce in the Peel region. The Mandurah-Peel Regional Skills Summit is the ninth of a series of 10 Regional Skills Summits hosted by the WA State Government since August 2021, and insights from today's event will form the basis of a local action plan to meet the region’s unique workforce needs."I am thrilled to be able to host one of the Skills Summits in Mandurah." said Mandurah MLA David Templeman. "The region has unique skills needs and I am interested in hearing about new ways of ensuring we can continue to grow our local workforce to support local jobs."

More than 40 government and regional business leaders from a range of sectors are attending; including the region’s biggest employing industries of retail, health care and social assistance, construction, education and training, manufacturing and accommodation and food services. 

Recognising the importance of training to build a skilled workforce and retain people in regional areas, the State Government has been working to ensure its investment in training initiatives reaches all corners of WA.

• Peel locals are snapping up affordable training opportunities offered through the Lower fees, local skills (LFLS) initiative, with a 27 per cent increase in LFLS enrolments in the region this year.
• Employers have responded by taking on more apprentices and trainees in the Peel region in 2021, with commencements up by more than 75 per cent in the 12 months to 30 September 2021. The LFLS program has recently been expanded by a further 30 qualifications from 2022, to include a total of 210 courses with heavily reduced course fees in priority industry areas including hospitality, health care, construction, retail and others.
• Workers in industries which have a critical need to upskill workers – including childcare, aged and disability care, and civil construction – will be able to access low fee existing worker traineeship places to help meet the skills needs of these sectors.

The new initiatives respond to workforce issues raised by industry leaders at the Perth and regional skills summits held to date, and are jointly funded through a $103.5 million agreement between the State and Commonwealth governments under the expanded JobTrainer Fund agreement.

Other initiatives progressing from the Perth Skills Summit include:

• attracting onshore skilled migrants to fill jobs in demand in WA;
• supporting mature age apprentices;
• promoting the tourism and hospitality industry to school students to grow the workforce;
• extending the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Re-engagement Incentive;
• freezing regional Government rental accommodation to attract public sector workers to the regions; and
• boosting Aboriginal youth employment opportunities.

The State Government is also providing support for jobseekers experiencing disadvantage to obtain a driver’s licence; progressing targeted advertising campaigns to attract interstate workers and increase participation of under-represented groups in WA; has smoothed the pipeline of construction work; and is running a series of 10 Regional Skills Summits, including the one being held today.

"Through Skills Summits our Government and industry leaders are working together to increase the capability of local workforces across the State." said Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery. "Ideas and discussions captured at the Mandurah Skills Summit will inform local action plans to address changing workforce needs in the Peel region, with a focus on local solutions for local issues."

Premier Mark McGowan and Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery have announced details of the State Government's $25 million investment in new equipment for Western Australia's TAFEs, to train students and create a pipeline of job ready graduates.

TAFE colleges across WA will receive $25 million of modern equipment as part of a four-year program to upgrade and modernise their equipment to contemporary industry standards; helping students, apprentices and trainees become more job ready. TAFE colleges identified areas of need based on local demand and emerging industry training needs.

South Regional TAFE will receive more than $1.1 million as part of Stage 1 of the TAFE Training Equipment Refresh Program. The Collie campus will receive $670,000 to purchase a heavy vehicle simulator and automation training equipment. The heavy vehicle driving simulator will equip students with simulated working conditions, allowing them to receive high quality training prior to driving large trucks on the road. The new equipment at the Collie campus will support the delivery of the Heavy Vehicle Driving Operations Skill Set, adding more skilled workers to the essential transport industry to meet increased demand created by local infrastructure projects including the Bunbury Outer Ring Road. More than $380,000 will go towards automation equipment for the Albany campus, including industrial process automation simulated plant and a programmable logic controller system.

Other highlights of Stage 1 include:

• $300,000 common rail diesel trainer for rail operations at North Metropolitan TAFE's Midland campus and $593,000 for electromechanical training systems across the Balga, Clarkson and Midland campuses;
• $1.4 million to install large high tech spray painting booths for panel beating at South Metropolitan TAFE's Carlisle campus;
• $2 million for heavy plant equipment across Central Regional TAFE's Geraldton and Kalgoorlie campuses; and
• $178,000 for nursing equipment at North Regional TAFE's Pundulmurra campus and $1.4 million for hydrogen and renewable energy equipment at the Karratha campus.

The $25 million investment adds to the State Government's record $184.3 million package for essential infrastructure upgrades across the TAFE colleges, which is currently underway.

Read the full media statement here

The WA State Government is meeting with the Pilbara’s key business leaders to discuss opportunities to grow the local skilled workforce, in back-to-back Regional Skills Summits being held in Karratha and Port Hedland this week.

In Karratha today and Port Hedland tomorrow, the Regional Skills Summits will generate practical actions and new and innovative ideas that will form the basis of a local action plan to meet the region’s unique workforce needs. More than 60 government and regional business leaders from a range of sectors are attending the Pilbara skills summits, including the region’s biggest employing industries of mining; construction; transport, postal and warehousing; accommodation and food services; professional, scientific and technical services; and administrative and support services.

Recognising the importance of training to build a skilled workforce and retain people in regional areas, the McGowan Government has been working to ensure its investment in training initiatives reaches all corners of the State. Pilbara locals are snapping up affordable training opportunities offered through the State Government’s Lower fees, local skills (LFLS) initiative, with a 31 per cent increase in LFLS enrolments in the region this year. Employers have responded by taking on more apprentices and trainees in the Pilbara region in 2021, with commencements up by more than 79 per cent in the 12 months to 31 August 2021.

The State Government recently expanded the LFLS program by a further 30 courses, to now include a total of 210 courses with heavily reduced course fees in priority industry areas including train driving, veterinary nursing, crane operations, surveying, laboratory technology, wool classing, hospitality management and others. Additionally, workers in industries which have a critical need to upskill workers – including childcare, aged and disability care, and civil construction – will be able to access low-fee existing worker traineeship places to help meet the skills needs of these sectors.

The new initiatives respond to workforce issues raised by industry leaders at the Perth and regional skills summits held to date, and are jointly funded through a $103.5 million agreement between the State and Commonwealth governments under the expanded JobTrainer Fund agreement. Other initiatives progressing from the Perth Skills Summit include:

• attracting onshore skilled migrants to fill jobs in demand in WA;
• supporting mature age apprentices;
• promoting the tourism and hospitality industry to school students to grow the workforce;
• extending the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Reengagement Incentive;
• freezing regional Government rental accommodation to attract public sector workers to the regions; and
• boosting Aboriginal youth employment opportunities.

The State Government is also providing support for jobseekers experiencing disadvantage to obtain a driver’s licence; progressing targeted advertising campaigns to attract interstate workers and increase participation of under-represented groups in WA; has smoothed the pipeline of construction work; and is running a series of 10 Regional Skills Summits, including the two being held in the Pilbara.

Fostering strong links between regional TAFE colleges and government, industry and the education sector, the VET Regional Partnerships Program also continues to grow. With a focus on creating more apprenticeships and traineeships in regional WA, the Program supports the Government’s plan to increase the number of jobs in regional WA by 30,000.

“As the engine room of the Australian economy, maintaining a strong and sustainable workforce in the Pilbara is pivotal to our State’s continuing recovery and success. “ said Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery today. "Insights will inform a local action plan to address changing workforce needs in the Pilbara with a focus on local solutions for local issues. “.
 

Read the full media statement here

The WA State Government is hearing from Goldfields-Esperance business leaders today about new ideas and opportunities to grow the local skilled workforce, at a regional skills summit in Kalgoorlie.

Insights from the Kalgoorlie Goldfields—Esperance Regional Skills Summit will form the basis of a local action plan to address changing workforce needs in the region, with a focus on local solutions for local issues. More than 40  government and regional business leaders from a range of sectors including healthcare and social assistance, education and training, accommodation and food services, public administration and safety, construction and retail are attending.

Recognising the importance of training to build a skilled workforce and retain people in regional areas, the State Government has been working to ensure its investment in training initiatives reaches all corners of the State. Goldfields—Esperance locals are snapping up affordable training opportunities offered through the Lower fees, local skills (LFLS) initiative, with a 26 per cent increase in LFLS enrolments in the region this year. Employers have responded by taking on more apprentices and trainees in the Goldfields—Esperance region in 2021, with commencements up by more than 80 per cent in the 12 months to 31 July 2021.

The LFLS program was recently expanded by a further 30 qualifications, to now include a total of 210 courses with heavily reduced course fees in priority industry areas including train driving, veterinary nursing, crane operations, surveying, laboratory technology, wool classing, hospitality management and others. Workers in industries which have a critical need to upskill workers – including childcare, aged and disability care, and civil construction – will be able to access low fee existing worker traineeship places to help meet the skills needs of these sectors.

The new initiatives respond to workforce issues raised by industry leaders at the Perth and regional skills summits held to date, and are jointly funded through a $103.5 million agreement between the State and Commonwealth governments under the expanded JobTrainer Fund agreement. Other initiatives progressing from the Perth Skills Summit include:

• attracting onshore skilled migrants to fill jobs in demand in WA;
• supporting mature age apprentices;
• promoting the tourism and hospitality industry to school students to grow the workforce;
• extending the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Re-engagement Incentive;
• freezing regional Government rental accommodation to attract public sector workers to the regions; and
• boosting Aboriginal youth employment opportunities.

The State Government is also providing support for jobseekers experiencing disadvantage to obtain a driver’s licence; progressing targeted advertising campaigns to attract interstate workers and increase participation of under-represented groups in WA; has smoothed the pipeline of construction work; and is running a series of 10 Regional Skills Summits, including the one being held today.

Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery today said: “Training Western Australians to fill jobs in demand is the centrepiece of our State’s economic recovery and maintaining a strong and sustainable workforce in the Goldfields—Esperance region is pivotal to our continuing success. The Kalgoorlie Goldfields—Esperance Regional Skills Summit is an opportunity for regional business leaders to work in partnership with government to progress new or innovative ideas to meet the region’s unique skills needs. “.

Read the full media statement here

The State Government's Lower fees, local skills program has been extended again, with another 30 qualifications discounted along with the introduction of reduced fees for workers in critical industries needing to upskill.

The 30 new qualifications will have course fees discounted by up to 72 per cent, from 1 January 2022. This will bring the total number of reduced-fee qualifications to 210, offering great opportunities for Western Australians to get into training. The 30 additional Lower fees, local skills courses cover a range of industries including train driving, veterinary nursing, crane operations, surveying, laboratory technology, childcare, hospitality management, healthcare and retail.

The Lower fees, local skills initiative has so far trained more than 72,600 Western Australians in 2021. Applications are now open for 2022 through TAFEs and training providers. 

Find out more at jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/skillsready

You can also contact your local Jobs and Skills Centre on 13 64 64, or your local TAFE college or training provider, for more information.

Workers in industries which have a critical need to upskill workers – including childcare, aged and disability care, and civil construction – will be able to access low fee existing worker traineeships. The childcare industry has an urgent need to upskill existing workers, to meet the sector's mandatory accreditation requirements for a qualified workforce. This new initiative will see thousands of dollars of savings for workers looking to upskill – for example; childcare workers will be able to benefit from massive discounts to the Diploma of Early Childhood and Care (a $7,256 non-concession saving). The low fee places for childcare commenced this month, to address the immediate need. 

Pictured: Premier Mark McGowan, Minister for Education and Training Sue Ellery, and Minister for Community Services
Simone McGurk at the Warriapendi Early Learning Centre in Balga, announcing the new initiatives today. 

Workers looking to upskill in aged and disability care, and civil construction, will also be able to access savings in the thousands when the low fees for existing worker traineeships in these sectors come into effect from 1 January 2022.

For more information, visit jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/ewt

You can also contact your local Jobs and Skills Centre on 13 64 64, or your local TAFE college or training provider, for more information.

“Through our Skills Summits, we have listened and are implementing initiatives that address industry needs. The low fee existing worker traineeships will target specific qualifications in the key sectors of childcare, aged and disability care, and civil construction which have a critical need to upskill workers. “ said Premier Mark McGowan. 

“Training is vital in creating skilled workers to support our local businesses and communities.“ added Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery. "We will continue to invest in training to ensure the Western Australian economy has access to a pool of highly skilled workers to support key WA industries. We are skilling West Aussies for jobs in demand and this will provide a significant boost to industries including hospitality and healthcare, which will benefit from a highly skilled and locally available workforce.”
 

The WA State Government is holding a Regional Skills Summit in Geraldton today – the third of 10 skills summits to be held in Western Australian regional centres this year. Hosted by Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and Training Terry Healy, more than 30 government and regional business leaders from a range of sectors including the agriculture, construction, education and training, healthcare, hospitality and tourism, mining and retail industries are attending. The Geraldton-Mid West Regional Skills Summit will generate practical actions and new and innovative ideas that will form the basis of a local action plan to meet the region’s unique workforce needs.

Recognising the importance of access to training to build a skilled workforce and retain people in regional areas, the State Government has been working to ensure its investment in training initiatives reaches all corners of WA. Student course enrolments in the Mid West have increased by 23 per cent in the past year, driven by affordable training opportunities through the Lower fees, local skills program and strong growth in employment-based training. Mid West employers have responded by taking on more apprentices and trainees in 2021, with commencements up by more than 86 per cent in the year to 31 July 2021.

A range of initiatives are already progressing from the Perth Skills Summit, to attract and retain skilled workers and continue our State’s strong economic growth. These initiatives include:

• attracting onshore skilled migrants to fill jobs in demand in WA;
• supporting mature age apprentices;
• promoting the tourism and hospitality industry to school students to grow the workforce;
• extending the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Reengagement Incentive;
• freezing regional Government rental accommodation to attract public sector workers to the regions;
• boosting Aboriginal youth employment opportunities; and
• providing support for jobseekers experiencing disadvantage to obtain a driver’s licence.

The State Government is also progressing targeted advertising campaigns to attract interstate workers, and increase participation of under-represented groups in WA.

“Building a sustainable Mid West workforce that can support the region’s pipeline of economic activity requires industry and government to work together.“ said Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery. "Today’s summit is an opportunity for the region’s business leaders and government to identify and progress practical actions to meet the immediate and long term skills needs of the Mid West region. Insights from the summit will inform a local action plan to address changing workforce needs in the Mid West, with a focus on local solutions to local issues.”.

Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton said "I was thrilled to recently join the Premier in marking the start of construction for the upgrade at Geraldton TAFE. We have also seen a huge increase in TAFE enrolments in the Mid-West. There has been a big investment by the McGowan Government into training in the Mid-West, and this summit will help develop further ideas to assist the skills needs of the local workforce.".

Quality local jobs continue to be more accessible to Western Australians, as the WA State Government builds on its work to boost jobs and skills in WA, with a $121.4 million investment  in skills and training in the 2021-22 State Budget.

This investment will deliver on election commitments to ensure TAFE and training continues to be more affordable and accessible, enabling local people to find work in local jobs throughout the State. Some of the key points announced are as follows. 

Boost for VET in secondary schools

More WA students will be encouraged into vocational education and training (VET), with a $29.8 million boost to VET in school places for Year 11 and 12 students.

• Training places for school students will be increased by 8,000 to engage students in quality, industry relevant training, with options to attain their Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE), while enhancing their post-school employment, education and training.
• A $19.2 million VET Career Taster Program will also be rolled out to Year 9 students from 2022. The State Government is already engaging with industry, schools and other key stakeholders to inform the program's development, with regional consultation about to commence.

Boost for apprenticeships and traineeships

There will be $32.4 million allocated to create 300 new jobs for apprentices and trainees. The funding will provide small and medium enterprises with access to 150 additional and highly subsidised apprentices and trainees in 2022, and again in 2023, to work on State Government projects.

Boost for TAFEs 

WA's TAFE colleges will receive $25 million of modern equipment as part of a four-year program to upgrade and modernise TAFE facilities to contemporary industry standards  — helping students, apprentices and trainees become more job-ready.

A $9.9 million investment over four years will support TAFE college lecturers to undertake industry placements to keep them at the forefront of innovation and quality education, and enable them to upskill and maintain industry standards, practices, qualifications and skills.

For more information, visit ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au

Premier Mark McGowan today announced a range of immediate initiatives to support Western Australia’s skilled worker needs and confirmed the rescheduled Skills Summit will take place on Friday, July 30. The event was postponed late last month due to WA's four-day circuit breaker COVD-19 lockdown. In order to begin addressing the immediate needs of Western Australian businesses, a number of key measures will be implemented now.

NEW! Adult Apprenticeship Employer Incentive

The new $5.2 million Jobs and Skills WA Adult Apprenticeship Employer Incentive will help businesses maximise job opportunities for adult apprentices who bring the benefit of skills, experience and maturity to businesses. WA businesses eligible for the new incentive may receive up to $26,800 when they hire an adult apprentice.

This will assist with growing WA’s skilled workforce and maximise opportunities for mature age apprentices, who are often overlooked by employers due to the higher cost of adult wages.
 

• For more information about AAEI, visit jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/aaei

Extension of Apprenticeship and Traineeship Reengagement Incentive

The successful Apprenticeship and Traineeship Re-engagement Incentive (ATRI) will be extended for a further 12 months, with an additional $4 million investment.

Since its commencement in July 2020, more than 1,600 apprentices and trainees have been re-engaged and given the opportunity to complete their training.

There are currently around 300 out of contract apprentices and trainees seeking a new employer across a range of industries.
 

• For more information about ATRI, visit jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/atri

Expansion of skilled migration program

The State Government has expanded the State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP) to provide a skilled migration pathway for temporary visa holders already in Australia.

The SNMP is a Commonwealth skilled migration program that allows States and Territories to attract temporary visa holders into occupations where there are vacancies not being met by local workers. An additional 134 occupations have been added to the WA Skilled Migration Occupation List from high demand industries.

With thousands of skilled temporary visa holders already in Australia, the changes to the SNMP will focus on attracting these skilled migrants to WA and assist businesses to retain visa holders already residing in WA.

For more information about SNMP, visit migration.wa.gov.au

Promotion of tourism and hospitality careers

A new partnership between Tourism WA and training council FutureNow will develop career programs for high-school students to highlight the vibrant career opportunities in tourism and hospitality.

It will include interactive demonstrations at the Skills West Careers Expo and a ‘chef ambassador’ program targeting students and teachers looking to upskill.

Regional rent increases for Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) frozen

The State Government has frozen rent increases for Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) in 2021—22, assisting regional towns to continue to attract and retain public sector workers such as police and teachers.

These measures are based on consultation with peak bodies, industry associations, industry training councils, WA unions and government agencies.

They will deliver immediate solutions for WA businesses’ skilled worker needs - with further short and long term actions to be identified at the rescheduled Skills Summit.

View the full media statement from the Premier and Minister here.

The Commonwealth Government has launched a $10 million program that will provide West Australian high school graduates with a fully funded, 12-month traineeship to help grow WA’s defence industry workforce.

The Defence Industry Pathways Program, developed in partnership with South Metropolitan TAFE and WA's maritime defence industry, is a taster course designed to set participants on a path to an exciting defence industry career. The pilot program will support 120 students by mid-2022, with the first cohort of 20 set to begin in July. 

The Defence Industry Pathways Program is open to WA school leavers who have completed Year 12. While the pilot will take place in and around the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, it could be adapted for implementation in other Defence industry sites across Australia. Defence industry partners will provide supervision, mentoring and on the job training as part of the program, and South Metropolitan TAFE is providing trainees with on-campus study to undertake the academic modules of the traineeship. The Commonwealth Government will contribute almost $45,000 per trainee to fund their wages, on-costs and uniform including safety footwear.

For full details and how to apply, please visit the South Metropolitan TAFE website

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the Government’s unprecedented investments in Defence projects, would create another 1,000 jobs across the nation in the naval shipbuilding industry by 2023. “This program is designed to build a pipeline of talent that is ready to be part of Australia’s booming shipbuilding industry,” Minister Price said. “We are investing $75 billion in the maritime domain, focused on the construction, upgrade and sustainment of new and existing classes of naval vessels. With the increasing demand for workers in the shipbuilding industry in Western Australia, the maritime defence industry needs to grow its workforce. We must attract and retain the next generation of designers, engineers, scientists and technical tradespeople to our industry.

Read the Minister's full media statement here

A new pilot program offering accelerated apprenticeship pathways for WA construction workers has been launched today by Premier Mark McGowan and Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery. The new Construction Accelerated Apprenticeship Program (CAAP) offers free skills assessment for construction industry workers with skills and experience, but without formal qualifications.
 

• To support WA's thriving construction industry, CAAP offers construction workers without formal qualifications the opportunity to have their existing skills recognised as a pathway into an apprenticeship, so that they can become trade qualified.
• Employers of apprentices will be able to access State and Australian Government incentives and wage subsidies.

The program is available for the non-licensed construction trades of carpentry and joinery, painting and decorating, bricklaying, tile laying, wall and ceiling fixing, plastering, sprinkler fitting, concreting, signwriting and stonemasonry.

CAAP was developed in consultation with key industry bodies and employers; including the Construction Training Fund, Housing Industry Association, Australian Brick and Blocklaying Training Foundation, BGC Housing Group, ABN Group, Master Builders WA and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union. The program is being run in partnership with WA metropolitan and regional TAFEs, who will conduct the free skills assessment component for participants. 

Further information about the Construction Accelerated Apprenticeship Program is available on the Jobs and Skills WA website.
 

• CAAP for WA construction workers

• CAAP for WA construction industry employers

Mandatory contact registers at relevant businesses and venues will be introduced from Saturday 5 December 2020. Maintaining a contact register is an extra safety measure and one of the most effective ways to control the spread of COVID-19.

Businesses and venues will need to record the name, telephone number, location, date and arrival time of all patrons, staff, volunteers and contractors and keep that information for 28 days.

These businesses or venues include:

• food and licenced venues (restaurants, cafés, bars, pubs, taverns, nightclubs);
• gyms, indoor sporting centres and pools;
• places of worship and funeral parlours;
• beauty and personal care services including hairdressers and barbers;
• galleries and museums;
• cinemas, theatres and other entertainment venues;
• auction houses and real estate inspections;
• community facilities, libraries and halls ;
• zoos and amusement parks;
• function centres; and
• accommodation facilities that already have check in arrangements in place (eg; hostels, hotels, large camp grounds).

New app available

To assist businesses and venues in collecting the information required, and make it easier for individuals to provide their contact details; a free, safe and secure app called SafeWA is now available. Endorsed by the Department of Health, the app provides businesses and venues a unique QR code that enables patrons to quick scan their contact details into the register.

Data collected via the SafeWA app will be encrypted at the point of capture, stored securely, and only be accessible by authorised Department of Health contact tracing personnel should COVID-19 tracing be needed. This means tracing can be performed quicker to keep people safe. 

The use of SafeWA is not mandatory, but is encouraged. The free app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play, giving businesses and venues time to implement the digital contact register system in time for 5 December. An information pack will be emailed to each business that downloads SafeWA.

Businesses may also use alternative formats for registration — including other electronic or paper-based systems depending on what is suitable for the business, venue or individual — however all information collected must be saved and stored securely and retained for 28 days.

Further information

Full details about the contact register requirements including frequently asked questions, ‘how to’ guides and information sheets for businesses and for individuals, is available on the WA Government website. Contact register templates, for those not using the SafeWA app, are also available.

Find out more at wa.gov.au/organisation/covid-communications/covid-19-coronavirus-contact-registers

The Department has released a new guide to Western Australian school-based apprenticeships and traineeships. The guide was developed collaboratively with stakeholders and is now available on our website.

The new guide provides detailed information on the important aspects involved in a school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBAT) arrangement. It provides help and support for schools, registered training organisations (RTOs), employers, students, parents and other stakeholders operating in Western Australia’s apprenticeship and traineeship system.

It includes:

• a quick guide which highlights the key steps involved in an SBAT from starting out through to completion;
• real life examples to make it easier to understand how SBATs actually work in practice;
• information on the different roles and responsibilities of each of the stakeholders, including the importance of effective communication and collaboration; and
• website links for easy access to fact sheets, forms and other relevant information.   

The guide is available as an online resource and can also be downloaded and printed.

The setting is identified on the Public Register of Prescribed VET Qualifications. It states:

• a school-based training contract comprises of:
  •   a minimum of 7.5 hours per week in paid work over the duration of the traineeship or apprenticeship, which can be averaged over six month periods; and
  •   training which may be supervised on the job, delivered off the job, or as some combination of on and off the job.

Please note that the setting identifies the minimum hours of paid work and allows employers and SBATs to negotiate longer hours of work, if required.

A new fact sheet School-based apprenticeships and traineeships: Minimum hours per week, is available on the Apprenticeship Office website under Training contract forms and factsheets.