Group Training Australia (GTA), the national peak body representing the Network of over 150 Group Training Organisations (GTOs) and employing 42,000 apprentices and trainees throughout Australia, welcomes today’s Skills for the Future announcement by the Prime Minister.

GTA believe that the today’s Skills for the Future package is an important contribution towards solving Australia’s skills crisis. Specific aspects of today’s announcement that affect Group Training include: Mid-Career Apprentices, Business Skills Vouchers for Apprentices and the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme.

Mid-Career Apprentices (mature age). The governments support for mature age apprentices is in line with GTAs calls for further assistance to mature age apprentices - specifically the important issue of wage relief for mature age apprentices.

Business Skills Vouchers for Apprentices. GTA recognise that the current business environment require many recently completed apprentices to trade as contractors or self-employed operators. Given this environment, GTA supports business skills training so recently completed apprentices can ensure that their skills are utilised for as long as they wish.

Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme. GTA believe that the expansion of this programme and the related incentives payments is a positive move that will encourage up-skilling in the existing workforce.

CEO of GTA, Jim Barron said, “Today’s announcement, in particular the initiative to support Mid- Career Apprentices via wage relief for the first and second year of an apprenticeship is very welcome. To date, wage rates for mature age apprentices have acted as a barrier to potential entrants.

“Mature age apprentices are able to bring to the workplace past work experiences. Many employers appreciate and benefit from this contribution, yet wage rates for mature age apprentices do not reflect this. I am encouraged that the government recognises the need to boost mature age wage rates. This initiative will go toward assisting the Australian workforce in becoming more flexible, highly skilled and responsive.

“Today’s announcement is a positive step towards solving Australia’s skills crisis. GTA looks forward to working with the government on the implementation today’s Skills for the Future programme,” Jim Barron concluded.

ENDS