Constituency Question: Supporting Apprentices
Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) — (12 790) My constituency question is to the Minister for Industry and Employment, and I ask: what is the government doing to support apprentices and, in particular, to fill any gaps in helping apprentices to get a job? Local residents seeking an apprenticeship often contact my office to seek advice about opportunities in the local area. These are people who have searched exhaustively for local opportunities and are contacting my office as a last resort. That is why it is so important not just to identify gaps in current services but to make sure that we are doing everything we can at the state level to address them. I know local residents would appreciate information from the minister on this vital issue.
Response:
| I am pleased to advise that the Victorian Government is increasing opportunities and is also providing practical assistance to people seeking apprenticeships and other jobs. In the 2016-17 budget, the Victorian Government allocated over $12 billion for infrastructure projects, including for public transport, roads, schools and hospitals. This investment was continued in the 2017-18 budget, with funding commitments that average $9.6 billion per annum over the next four years. As well as providing the facilities that Victorians need, this investment in infrastructure is generating thousands of new jobs for local workers and is creating more apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities. Major Projects Skills Guarantee Reflecting our commitment to increase opportunities for young people in particular, the Government introduced the Major Project Skills Guarantee (MPSG) on 1 January 2016. Under the MPSG, all contractors engaged to deliver publicly funded building and construction, infrastructure, civil engineering and other capital projects valued at $20 million or over, are required to reserve at least 10 per cent of the projects’ labour hours for Victorian apprentices, trainees and/or engineering cadets. This initiative is currently being applied by the Level Crossing Removal Program, the Mernda Rail Extension Project, the New Schools Project, the Melbourne Metro Rail Project, the High Capacity Metro Trains Project and the Westgate Tunnel Project, amongst others. To date, the MPSG has generated over 1,400 employment opportunities for Victorian apprentices, trainees and cadets. It is estimated that around 20 additional projects will be applying the MPSG over the next 24 months and will, therefore, continue to improve job opportunities for prospective apprentices and help to retain those currently employed. Jobs Victoria Where jobseekers face difficulties in finding and keeping work, Jobs Victoria can assist. The government has allocated over $63 million for Jobs Victoria to expand services to help Victorians find work. Our network of Jobs Victoria partners work closely with employers to identify the types of skills and experience they are looking for, and to help prepare jobseekers for those roles. Examples of Jobs Victoria services in north west Melbourne include the Brotherhood of St Laurence in Epping, NorthLink and Jesuit Social Services. Further information about Jobs Victoria, including contact details for our Jobs Victoria partners is available at: www.jobs.vic.gov.au Apprenticeship Support Australia Apprenticeship Support Australia provides comprehensive apprenticeship and traineeship information to employers, prospective apprentices, parents and career advisors. The Victorian branch is led by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It has 13 offices in Victoria and can be contacted on 1300 363 831. More information can also be found at: http://www.appren ticeshipsupport.com.au/states/Victoria Skills and Jobs Centres The Victorian Government has provided $16 million to establish Skills and Jobs Centres to help both individuals and businesses with employment opportunities and training. Based at TAFEs across Victoria, these Skills and Jobs Centres provide expert advice and tailored support services including apprenticeship and traineeship support and identifying work opportunities within businesses. The closest Skills and Jobs Centre to the Yuroke District is based at the Kangan Institute in Broadmeadows. More information about this particular Skills and Jobs Centre can be found at www.kangan.edu.au |