Budget confirms support for vocational training

Budget confirms support for vocational training
 
The release of the 2015 Federal Budget this week confirmed the launch of the Australian Apprenticeships Support Network from July 1. This network will match apprentices to a trade and employer, and support them throughout their apprenticeship so that they complete their training and enter the workforce.
 
Australian Business Apprenticeships Centre will deliver this new service in Queensland, the ACT and NSW as part of national company, Apprenticeship Support Australia.
 
More than 350 000 apprentices are expected to be supported through the Apprenticeships Support Network in the first year, for which the Budget provides up to $200 million in 2015-16. Around 78 000 employers are expected to receive incentive payments in the first year, to help with the costs of employing and training an apprentice.
 
 
Other relevant Budget initiatives included:
 

• An investment of around $6 billion this year to support training that gives apprentices and vocational students the skills they need for modern Australian workplaces
• A $664 million Industry Skills Fund that will support more than 250,000 training places and support services including skills advice for micro, small and medium-sized businesses
• Two youth-training pilots at 32 sites across Australia
• Around 7,500 scholarships of up to $7,500 to assist employers to take on and train unemployed youth
• Up to $2000 in assistance for eligible community service organisations to help disengaged 15-18 year-olds get back to school, start vocational education and training or move into the workforce

 
 
For more information on Budget initiatives affecting the vocational education and training sector go to: www.education.gov.au