Young South Australians, school leavers and job seekers will benefit from increased low-cost training under a significant investment through the JobTrainer package to be rolled out across South Australia.
An additional injection of $88 million into the state’s training system includes $53.5 million from the State Government and $34.5 million from the Australian Government.
“We need to drive new pathways and employment into new and emerging sectors, such as cyber security, ICT, defence industries and the creative industries, which are key to the state’s future economic growth,” Premier Steven Marshall said.
“We are driving a skills-led economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and our additional training investment under JobTrainer will prioritise skills in industries where there is high demand for skilled workers to drive employment, such as in the care sector – aged care, disability care and childcare.”
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said strengthening Australia’s skills and training system is a priority as the nation responds to COVID-19.
“JobTrainer is central to Australia’s recovery from COVID-19. It will provide Australians with new opportunities and skills,” Minister Cash said.
“It is a significant joint investment by the Commonwealth and States and Territories.”
Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said training delivery will be a mix of short courses (microcredentials), and qualifications with tailored delivery aligned to sector needs to support entry and re-entry into the workforce, including through traineeships and apprenticeships.
“Engaging the vocational education and training sector and supporting school leavers, young people and job seekers into training and employment will lead to sustainable careers in priority sectors for South Australia,” Minister Pisoni said.
“Skills and workforce development are critical to South Australia’s economic rebuild, recovery and transition, and proficiency in skills drives individual prosperity, economic productivity and growth, and helps create more jobs.
“The Marshall Liberal Government shares the Morrison Government’s commitment to a skills-led economic recovery and welcomes the announcement of the JobTrainer Fund and the recent extension of wage subsidies for apprentices and trainees employed by small and medium businesses.
“By establishing strong partnerships with industry we have achieved nation leading results, with the latest national data showing in 2019 SA achieved a 14.7 per cent increase in apprentice and trainee commencements, compared to only a 2.5 per cent increase nationally.
“With this significant investment we will also provide support for around 4,000 people to transition into paid training contracts such as apprenticeships and traineeships in sectors that haven’t traditionally used the paid traineeship model, where they can utilise the skills gained through JobTrainer. This is part of our JobTrainer target of 15,000 training places.”
“Skilling South Australia is creating new career pathways and jobs through apprenticeships and traineeships, and JobTrainer will target upskilling and industry entry through skills development to fast track school leavers and job seekers into priority sectors as the economy begins to recover and grow.”
