Apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities for Territorians considering career options
Friday 13 January 2006
Opportunities abound and the future is bright for Territorians keen to participate in vocational education and training (VET) and for those considering an apprenticeship or traineeship.
Deputy Chief Executive for Employment Services with the Department of Employment, Education and Training (DEET) John Hassed said VET programs across the Territory assist people gain skills for work, improve career opportunities and learn in areas they are interested in.
He said last year saw a record intake of apprentices and trainees in the Northern Territory, with a high proportion of traditional trade apprentices in skills shortage areas.
Mr Hassed attributes much of the increased intake to Jobs Plan – Building the Northern Territory Workforce, an initiative aimed at maximising employment opportunities for all Territorians and creating a highly skilled and flexible workforce, and the $14 million dedicated to train and support apprentices and trainees.
Financial incentives through the Employer Assistance Incentive Scheme encourage and assist employers in taking up additional apprentices and trainees - with $7000 incentives for eligible employers of traditional trade apprentices, and $3000 incentives for employers of small business trainees. Further rounds of incentives will be offered in the months ahead.
“Such incentives, along with recent marketing campaign The VET Experience, highlight the benefits to employers, and help create more apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities for young Territorians”, Mr Hassed said.
“Many of the Territory’s most successful businesspeople began their careers through trade apprenticeships. More and more Territorians are again discovering what a great way this is to kickstart their career – to learn and earn at the same time.”
Traditional trade apprentices are also eligible for $1000 Workwear Workgear bonuses, and $300 payments are offered to trainees and apprentices in other areas.
Apprentices can also take advantage of opportunities such as Worldskills – the trade and skill competitions held in Darwin, Alice Springs and Nhulunbuy that challenge young people to achieve work-skill excellence. Winners go on to represent the Territory in the national finals, and may then make the Australian team for the international competition.
Another initiative is the Build Skills Program, assisting workers to upgrade their skills and gain formal qualifications – which will help them to further build a career in their chosen fields.
To assist young Territorians in the transition from school to work, $2.2 million has been allocated to the VET in Schools program. The program helps students gain valuable work experience, undertake vocational training, access school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, and open exciting career pathways. Appointed careers advisers in high schools help students with their options and assist them to link in with industry.
The annual Careers Expo also presents an opportunity for students to explore their future pathways and receive up-to-date career information in face-to-face discussions with training providers, potential employers, and government department and tertiary institution representatives.
The Try-a-Trade event is organised each year by Group Training NT, Charles Darwin University (CDU), Territory Construction Association (TCA), with the support of DEET. The event gives students a taste of the various trades on offer and serves to encourage year 9 students to consider a career in the trades and take on VET subjects in their senior years.