Apprentice employment improves despite COVID challenges
Apprentices and trainees who recently completed their training during the COVID pandemic have found employment at higher rates than pre-pandemic, according to the latest figures from NCVER.
At the end of May 2021, 94% of trade completers were employed, up 2.5 percentage points from 2019.
For non-trade completers, 88.4% were employed after training, up 3.5 percentage points from 2019.
The percentage of construction apprentices and trainees employed after their training rose from 91.9% in 2019 to 95% in 2021.
Almost a third of all trade completers employed at the end of May 2021 were employed with a different employer to their apprenticeship or traineeship.
There was also increased satisfaction among trade apprentices with the quality of their training – up 2.5 percentage point to 93%.
See Apprentice and trainee outcomes 2021
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Review of Home Building Act
The NSW Department of Customer Service is progressing with a review of the Home Building Act 1989.
There have been a number of industry roundtables that have raised fresh proposals, resulting in a more detailed plan that will go out for further discussion.
Two draft bills are expected to be released in coming weeks. These will go out for public consultation.
See the February update to the discussion paper.
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Western Sydney students to hear about fastest growing jobs
Career opportunities in some of the state’s top employment sectors will feature in an interactive webinar series for students in Western Sydney during March and April.
The ‘Careers of Tomorrow’ series is being coordinated by Regional Industry Education Partnerships (RIEP) and will feature five industry sectors with significant job opportunities.
Session times are:
- Construction, 9 March
- Retail, 16 March
- Technology, 23 March
- Health, 30 March
- Manufacturing, 6 April
The sessions will hear from industry professionals, trainees, apprentices and graduates around pathways into the industries.
Register here
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Hunter region schools participate in mining careers showcase
Regional Development Australia (RDA) Hunter has joined with the NSW Minerals Council and selected Hunter region high schools for a third year of the PRIME (Pathways to Resource Industry and Mining Employment) Program.
It is expected that more than 25 schools will adopt the PRIME program in 2022.
The PRIME Program is designed for students students in Years 9 & 10 to help them appreciate how Science and Geography apply across the lifecycle of a mine, and the types of skills and jobs required to support mining operations.
The program includes the implementation of mining-specific content, scenario-based learning activities and real-world problem solving in the classroom.
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Last chance to participate in industry cluster briefing
The third and final official briefing on the new Industry Cluster reform is being held this week.
The briefing by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment will provide information to potential applicants to support their submission prior to the close of the first stage of the two-step process on 31 March.
Items to be addressed include the Industry Clusters funding model and lessons learned from the Skills Organisation Pilots, as well as a panel Q&A.
The federal government has allocated $292 million over four years to support the new model.
See the current grant opportunity.
Register for the industry briefing.
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GBIG grants open to more schools and regions
Funding to get young people into work is being extended under the new Get Back in the Game (GBIG) program, which replaces the Regional VET Pathways (RVP) and the Educational Pathways Pilot Program (EPPP).
The new program combines the two former programs and sees funding expanded until June 2024.
GBIG service providers will deliver industry grounded career and transition advice, mentoring and brokerage of transitions of disengaged young people into education, training and/or employment.
The new program will also cover additional schools and regions.
Applications for funding are open until 21 March.
See details of the Get Back in the Game grant round
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Smart and Skilled update
The latest Smart and Skilled update includes details regarding the NSW JobTrainer program which will now continue until 31 December 2022.
Under the program, NSW’s Skilling for Recovery funding will be extended with wider qualifications and eligibility.
There has also been an update of the NSW Skills List which includes new and removed qualifications, and updates to Training Packages.
See the January Smart and Skilled Update
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NSW Training Awards open for nominations
Applications for the 2022 NSW Training Awards have opened.
This is the time to nominate the remarkable VET learners and organisations that are shaping the future of the state’s skills sector.
Entries close 18 March.
The awards presentation is set down for 9 September at the Sydney Town Hall.
See the 2022 awards video and here for key dates, selection criteria and information.
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Events Diary
NSW Women in Mining Awards
Applications close: 4 March 2022
Awards Dinner: 23 June 2022
See more
National Apprentice Employment Network National Conference
15-17 March 2022
Hobart, Tasmania
See more
NSW Training Awards
Entries close: 18 March 2022
Presentation Ceremony: 9 September 2022
Sydney Town Hall
See more
Mining Careers Dinners
Various cities and dates during May
For Years 11 & 12
See more
NSW Master Builders Association Excellence in Housing Awards
Entries close: 25 March 2022
Awards Dinner: 10 September 2022
See more
2022 Skills Conference
Apprentice Employment Network NSW & ACT
15 June 2022
Dockside Darling Harbour
See more
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