On Thursday this week, GAN Australia and the Apprenticeship Employment Network held their inaugural meeting where industry leaders representing large employers from the private sector, federal and state government, TAFE, group training and the not-for-profit sector gathered to discuss current issues and promote best practices on two complex issues that we face:
- Skills for Business – attracting and retaining staff is ever-challenging in today’s business environment.
- Jobs for Youth – at the same time, we have high youth unemployment in many pockets around Australia – particularly within indigenous and culturally diverse communities.
Meeting Highlights
Best practice presentations
The group heard presentations from the following organisations:
Nestle on their Global Youth Initiative “Nestle needs YOUth™” program which aims to help 10 million young people worldwide access economic opportunities by 2030 with a focus on employability, entrepreneurship and agripreneurship.
WPC Group on their partnership with Nissan on the Nissan Mentored Apprenticeship Program (NISSMAP) which has provided career opportunities for over 170 apprentice technicians since its inception in 2012.
MIGAS on their Shell QGC Pathways Program – a program run in the Western Downs Region in Queensland that aims at creating job opportunities for individuals to establish a career pathway with a world-leading organisation through apprenticeships. To date the program has seen a 40% Female Participation and 20% indigenous participation.
MEGT on their Microsoft Traineeship Program that aims to train 1500 trainees nationally by 2022 and reach a target of 40% female and 10% indigenous participation. Trainees will receive a nationally recognised Certificate IV qualification as well as Microsoft Certification.
Apprenticeship Vacancy Index
GAN Australia launched its Apprenticeship Vacancy Index (AVI) – an interactive dashboard showing advertised apprenticeship vacancies around the country.
The AVI will be monitored and updated on a monthly basis and is freely available here.
Upcoming Policy Paper
An announcement was made on the forthcoming policy paper entitled “Time to get on with the job – Utilising the apprenticeship system to support youth and strengthen Australia’s skills needs”.
The paper provides recommendations and best practice examples of how an adequately funded and agile apprenticeship system can lead to a higher skilled and stronger workforce.
The paper is due to be released later this month.
