The latest federal government budget has put the spotlight firmly on apprenticeships and traineeships through the announcement of the Skilling Australians Fund. These budget announcements herald an opportunity for re-invigoration of the system.
For the nation to best benefit from this opportunity, learnings from current and past apprenticeship schemes show that there is already significant investment from Governments — Commonwealth, states and territories — plus industry and employer investment.
A chance to be bold and ambitious: make apprenticeships the lynchpin to a better integrated tertiary education sector released today by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) considers these issues.
The paper highlights that the backdrop to this budget announcement is a declining apprenticeship and traineeship system that has seen its lowest numbers for more than ten years. The focus is however on future opportunities that can be realised through a more aspirational approach of an integrated tertiary education sector with apprenticeships as the cornerstone.
“The apprenticeship model is valuable and enduring – and it can be made much more bold and ambitious” said Dr Craig Fowler, Managing Director, NCVER.
“The budget announcement can be used as an opportunity to invigorate the system and deliver a far more enticing opportunity to young Australians and higher quality apprentices and traineeships to better meet the skills of Australia’s employers. It’s not just greater numbers — it’s as much about new opportunity and higher quality and performance standards.”
By looking to future bolder and more ambitious opportunities, connected with future growth industries, high demand occupations and trade apprentices there is potential for apprenticeships to become the lynchpin in a better integrated tertiary education sector and also support the nation’s innovation and science agenda.
Copies of A chance to be bold and ambitious: make apprenticeships the lynchpin to a better integrated tertiary education sector, are available from https://www.ncver.edu.au/about/news-and-events/opinion-pieces/a-chance-to-be-bold-and-ambitious-make-apprenticeships-the-lynchpin-to-a-better-integrated-tertiary-education-sector.
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