Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald MLC, has said there will be an unprecedented level of support for apprentices in the 2018 State Budget, with the NSW Liberal-National Government to offer 100,000 free apprenticeships to ensure there is a strong pipeline of skilled workers across the state.
Mr MacDonald said this new $285m skills and training package means that as from July, free apprenticeships will be offered to newly enrolled apprentices in any course. “Today’s announcement is all about building up the workforce that will help us capitalise on our record infrastructure program, and in turn deliver a generation of skilled workers,” Mr MacDonald said.
“As a government, we have already created the positions for apprentices, by ensuring 20 per cent of trade roles on all future government projects will be filled by apprentices, and now we are covering the cost of their training,” he added.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Skills, Mr John Barilaro, said NSW needs more apprentices to ensure we have a strong pipeline of skilled workers for the NSW job market. “We know that without skilled workers, our economy will stall,” Mr Barilaro said. “The single biggest threat to our $80.1b infrastructure spending program is not having the workforce to deliver it. “You can have the money to spend, but if you don’t have the skilled workers to actually bring the projects to life, it all counts for nothing.
“This sort of free training offer has never been made before, so I encourage people thinking about skilling up, or starting a new career, to make the most of it,” Mr Barilaro said. The 100,000 free apprenticeships will be on offer over the next four years and include all 121 courses currently funded under the Smart and Skilled program. For more information including details about how to enrol from July 1, go to the Smart and Skilled website.
Source: Media release, Jun 18 Kit Hale, Office of Scot MacDonald MLC