Apprenticeships - training for the 21st century or stuck in the middle-ages?

15 August 2008

With a history stretching back hundreds of years, a Melbourne conference will today (Friday) consider whether apprenticeships are the future of training or a relic from the past.

The one-day conference, 'Apprenticeships: Sustaining Australia's skills base', will examine Australia's apprenticeship and training system, according to Tom Karmel, Managing Director of conference host, the National Centre for Vocational Education Research.

Dr Karmel described Australia's 21st century apprenticeship system as a direct descendent of the trade training pioneered by the guilds in middle-ages England.

"There've been changes along the way but the current approach to training a carpenter, a plumber or a motor mechanic can be traced back to the middle-ages.

"The approach has expanded into traineeships in non-trades which now outnumber traditional apprenticeships.

"There is a growing body of opinion that it's time to look at how the next generation of skilled Australian tradespeople should be trained. And also whether traineeships have achieved their aims.

"Today's conference is a major step in that direction."

Dr Karmel said apprentices were starting in record numbers but employers continue to say they are plagued by skill shortages. A major concern is the drop off in those completing their training.

"For example of those who started an apprenticeship in 1995 we estimate that 71% completed their training. But seven years later the completion rate for the 2002 class of apprentices had fallen to 47%.

"I don't think anybody would suggest that these are figures we should aspire to as a nation. They raise logical questions about whether apprenticeships, as they are currently construed, are right either for apprentices or their employers.

"It is also time to examine traineeships in relatively low skilled occupations. Are they effective?

"This is not just an academic argument. Australia's prosperity depends on the skills of its workforce, so it's an issue that affects the entire community."

The 'Apprenticeships: Sustaining Australia's skills base' forum will take place at Telstra Dome, Docklands, from 10am to 3.30pm, today (Friday August 15).

A feature of the event will be the first major address (12.30pm) by Philip Bullock, the inaugural Chair of Skills Australia, the Commonwealth Government's new skills and training peak advisory body.

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