Eligible apprentices, employers can expect financial support
The Australian government is adding 19 occupations to its Australian Apprenticeship Priority List, making apprentices, trainees, and their employers eligible for financial support.
In an announcement, Skills and Training Minister Brendan O'Connor said the newly added occupations are:
- Ambulance Officer
- Animal Husbandry Technician
- Aquaculture or Fisheries Technician
- Architectural Draftsperson
- Boat Builder and Repairer
- Earth Science Technician
- Fire Protection Plumber
- Flight Attendant
- Furniture Maker
- Graphic Pre-press Trades Worker
- Irrigation Designer
- Irrigation Technician
- Light Technician
- Mine Deputy
- Nursing Support Worker
- Out of School Hours Care Worker
- Pharmacy Technician
- Shipwright
- Sound Technician
"The occupations on the list are based on hard evidence drawn from public and private data, that has been analysed by Jobs and Skills Australia," O'Connor said in a statement.
What can employers expect?
The Australian Apprenticeships Priority List identifies trade, community, and personal services occupations that are experiencing national skills shortage, according to Apprenticeship Support Australia | News.
The list is used by the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System, which extends financial and non-financial support to apprentices and their employers in a bid to boost commencements and completions.
Under the system, employers of these apprentices may receive support of up to $15,000 over the duration of the apprenticeship, while full-time apprentices may also receive up to $10,000.
"These payments are aimed at encouraging apprentices and trainees to pursue work in areas of skills shortage, complete their training, and go on to have successful long-term careers," the DEWR said in its media release.
Data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) revealed that there has been a 13.6% increase in completions for apprentices and trainees in the 12 months ending June 2023.
NCVER managing director Simon Walker attributed the rise to the increase in commencements in recent years.
"The growth in commencements between 2020 and 2022 coincided with the government stimulus measures to support employers engage and retain apprentices and trainees during the COVID pandemic," Walker said in a statement.
