Insights
Insights and recommendations from the Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentives System
Insights and recommendations from the Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentives System The Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentives System aimed to determine its effectiveness in encouraging new apprenticeship commencements and increasing completion rates. The final report ‘Skills for tomorrow: Shaping the future of Australian apprenticeships’ critically investigates whether current and previous incentives have achieved these goals and provides recommendations for more effective incentive settings. The final report covers significantly more than incentives and makes recommendations for apprenticeship settings across the economy. In this insights post, we aim to provide an overview of the key elements related to [...]
Changing from ANZSCO to OSCA
Changing from ANZSCO to OSCA The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released a new standard for occupations, after announcing earlier this year that they and Statistics NZ would be developing new country specific standards. The Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) will replace the Australia and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), being introduced into labour market reporting and the Australian Census in 2026. This change will modernise the occupational classification system, making it more flexible and better aligned with the current and future labour market in Australia. OSCA V1 includes 80 additional occupations compared with ANZSCO 2022, [...]
Federal Budget wrap up
Federal budget – wrap Treasurer the Hon Dr Jim Chalmers handed down the 24/25 Australian Federal Budget on Tuesday 14 May. Skills were a central feature of a Budget that aims to “train the skilled workforce we need right across the economy” (Media release, Minister O’Connor). This blog post covers key Budget features related to the skills sector, including: Australian Apprenticeship incentives and programs Fee-free TAFE and VET Integration of VET and higher education Changes to labour hire Supports for small business Employment services reform Australian Apprenticeships Incentives and financial supports There have been two major announcements related to [...]
Australian VET Outcomes: Part 2 – Apprentices
Australian Apprenticeships combine employment with training, in an 'earn and learn' model. Apprenticeships and traineeships support workers to develop their skills in an industry-relevant manner, preparing them for a career in their chosen occupation. Employers use apprenticeships and traineeships as a way to bring skilled staff into their workplace. You can read more about the reasons why employers use apprenticeships and VET in part 1 of this series: Employer Outcomes. Data in this insights post are sourced from the NCVER Apprentice and Trainee Outcomes report. Reasons for doing an apprenticeship or traineeship The majority of apprentices and trainees across [...]
Did you know? Australian Apprenticeship Priority List
The Australian Apprenticeships Priority List (AAPL) is used as part of the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives System to determine which employers and apprentices are eligible for financial incentives. Employers who take on apprentices in roles listed on the AAPL may receive higher incentives than if the role isn't on the AAPL. Apprentices in 'clean energy' roles on the list may also get incentives which other apprentices don't. As the list determines the level of incentive received, many people keenly track the occupations and qualifications that are added to the list. 2024 AAPL update The AAPL has been updated for commencements [...]
Australian VET outcomes: Part 1 – Employers
The Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) system is designed to support learners develop the skills and knowledge for work, and to enable employers to hire and upskill staff with the skills and knowledge needed in the workplace. Australian Apprenticeships take this one step further: learners are employed while undertaking their VET qualification, and employers are training staff through a VET qualification and within the workplace. This means that the VET and Australian Apprenticeships systems must meet the needs of both learners and employers. Each year the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) surveys both learners and employers [...]
The clean energy generation: Opportunities for apprenticeships
Jobs and Skills Australia have released a capacity study on Australia's clean energy workforce needs, titled The Clean Energy Generation: workforce needs for a net zero economy. Apprenticeships are highlighted throughout the report as a main pathway into the clean energy workforce, which need to be a focus of governments and industry when considering how Australia will reach net zero. "Fundamentally, this study highlights the need to increase the number of apprenticeships across the most relevant trades: Electro-Technology and Electrical Distribution and Transmission." page 238 The 285-page report picks up on feedback and suggestions from a wide range of apprenticeship [...]