The IntoWork Group welcomes the Australian Government’s increased investment in employment and training initiatives including the expanded and extended Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) wage subsidy and the significant increase in training places through JobTrainer.
The budget includes $1.2 billion to uncap the BAC program and extend the subsidy to 12 months from the date of commencement, and an additional $1.5 billion to extend the commencement period for another six months to 31 March 2022.
IntoWork Group CEO Poul Bottern says the BAC has proven to be a winner with employers. “More than 100,000 new apprentices have been signed up under the BAC since it was introduced in October 2020 by the federal government to assist with the recovery from the impact of COVID-19.
Tuesday’s budget announcement of the extension of the program means even more apprentices and trainees get the chance to skill or upskill”.
“We work with in excess of 47,000 apprentices and trainees and their employers each year and the feedback we’re getting is that BAC is giving employers confidence to start new apprentices or trainees by providing a subsidy of 50 per cent of wages for a new or recommencing apprentice or trainee for a 12-month period, to a maximum of $7,000 per quarter.
“It’s also pleasing to see initiatives to attract women to non-traditional trades, with an extra 5,000 places and in training support for women interested in undertaking an apprenticeship in a non-traditional trade occupation,” said Mr Bottern.
In addition, more people will have the chance to reskill or upskill with an additional $500 million dollars to be matched by state and territory governments, for subsidised and fee free training in areas of areas of skills need. It will see the creation of 163,000 new training places, including around 33,000 in aged care and 10,000 in digital skills.
“This funding is vital to upskill job seekers and meet skills shortages, both of which will ultimately strengthen our economy. We look forward to being able to deliver current, high quality training to more people, and support them to create a new career path,” said Mr Bottern.
