Patron - Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
GTA is the national peak body representing the network of over 150 Group Training Organisations (GTOs) employing
over 40,000 apprentices and trainees throughout Australia.
1 December 2009
‘Kickstart’ critical to apprentice revival
Group Training Australia (GTA), the single largest network employing over 40,000
apprentices and trainees,
today welcomed commencement
of the Apprentice Kickstart
employer incentive program,
and stressed the importance of promoting apprentices to
employers during the economic recovery.
The Apprentice Kickstart program will more than triple the incentives available to employers
that take on an apprentice between 1 December 2009 and 28 February 2010.
GTA Chief Executive Officer,
Jim Barron,
said
these measures come at the
critical
recruitment period when young people and employers are considering options for
apprenticeships.
“Small and medium size employers particularly need this encouragement to re-engage in
training. This
funding
will help to ensure that more young people are able to gain and
complete their apprenticeship and help build Australia’s skills capacity at a critical time in the
economic recovery,” he said.
GTA is currently working closely with Local Employment Coordinators (LECs) in nine of the
twenty priority areas across Australia identified by the Federal Government as being highly
disadvantaged and showing high unemployment.
Mr Barron said the Apprentice Kickstart incentives will aid the work of LECs by encouraging
employers to take on an apprentice at a time of difficult economic conditions for many in the
traditional trades.
“Over the past decade there has been a break in the relationship between economic activity
and apprentice levels,
and so high rates of training
will have to be maintained for another
decade to compensate for the reduced training rate.
“The important work of the LECs to help disadvantaged people become employed will be
supported
by the incentives
and
create greater opportunities for many in the community to
gain skills and employment through an apprenticeship.”
Group training organisations, along with local Chambers of Commerce and community
groups, are currently holding local business forums in the priority areas
to promote the
benefits and incentives associated with taking on an apprentice.
The Apprentice Kickstart program
is in line with the recommendations of the Australian
Apprentices Taskforce and COAG to provide
greater support and incentives to boost
apprenticeship commencements and completions. It builds on the Securing Apprenticeships
initiative announced earlier this year which provided some $145 million to encourage
employers to take on apprentices and trainees who have been laid off.
Media Contact:
Renata Davis, Foresight Communications, 02 9241 2811, 0438 525 413,
rdavis@forecoms.com.au
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