The Nationals and Liberals have announced a new Accelerating Apprenticeship Fund to help small businesses take on more apprentices, build a stronger workforce and grow the local economy.
The fund will cover half the off the job training costs for eligible apprentices, reducing a significant financial barrier for employers.
Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath, said the initiative would help tackle skills shortages, strengthen local businesses and create more opportunities for young people.
“Local businesses regularly tell me the cost of training apprentices can make it difficult to take on extra staff,” Ms Bath said.
“This fund will make it easier for employers to hire and train apprentices, while giving more young people the opportunity to build a rewarding career close to home.”
Businesses employing apprentices in occupations listed on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List will be eligible to claim quarterly rebates for approved training costs.
Eligible occupations include electricians, plumbers, carpenters, cabinet makers, heavy diesel technicians, welders, fitters and turners, arborists, landscapers, agricultural workers, veterinary nurses and chefs.
Ms Bath said Gippsland’s youth unemployment rate is currently 9.9 per cent – that’s nearly one in ten young people who want work but are unable to find it.
“Our Nationals and Liberals plan is about giving young people a clear pathway into a trade closer to home and helping local businesses find and train the skilled workers they need.
“By reducing the cost of training apprentices, we’re backing small business and creating more opportunities for the next generation.
“It’s a practical investment in Gippsland’s future workforce and our region’s economic growth.”
The Accelerating Apprenticeship Fund is estimated to cost $115 million over four years and would be funded through more than $24 billion in savings measures, including a public service hiring freeze for back-office bureaucrats, capping executive remuneration growth and winding up the Carroll Labor Government’s venture capital firm, Breakthrough Victoria.
