Earn
PM announces billion-dollar skills package
The national government has announced the next phase in its COVID-19 recovery plan, which includes getting Australians back to work after the pandemic.

PM announces billion-dollar skills package
The national government has announced the next phase in its COVID-19 recovery plan, which includes getting Australians back to work after the pandemic.

The government’s new JobTrainer program has announced that it will spend $2.5 billion to help reskill Australians and has expanded apprentice subsidies in its new-look JobTrainer program.
It will add $1.5 billion to wage subsidies for apprentices and trainees, expanding the scheme announced in March to cover medium-sized businesses with under 200 employees and extending it for six months, until March 2021.
The plan is backed by $500 million of Commonwealth money, with the federal government hoping state governments will match that amount.
“COVID-19 is unprecedented, but I want Australians to be ready for the sorts of jobs that will come as we build back and recover,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
The remaining $1 billion of the funding (split between the federal government and states) will go towards JobTrainer to train and reskill school leavers and people looking for work.
Under this proposal, short courses will be free or low-cost and delivered through TAFE as well as other providers, focusing on areas including healthcare and social assistance, transport, postal, manufacturing, retail and wholesale trade.
Senator Michaelia Cash told the media, “The announcement will assist apprentices and trainees across Australia to remain in their jobs.”
“But it will also ensure we are creating hundreds of thousands of additional training places, working with states and territories in areas of great need,” she said.
The government said it wants the training to commence in September or October this year.
“You could be doing a short course in October this year at a low cost or no cost and going straight into a job.
“That is the whole point of the package. It is also the point of the government’s focus. You’ve got to ensure the training system is training people in areas of demand. Training must be linked to jobs,” Ms Cash said.
About the author

About the author


Salary
Employers scrambling to prevent workplace brain drain
As workplace managers face a swiftly evolving employment market that’s increasingly favouring the demands of white-collar employees and jobseekers, bosses are falling under mounting pressure to pres...Read more

Salary
Unions back Albanese’s pledge to close gender pay gap
An electoral promise from Labor to make gender pay equity an objective of the Fair Work Act has been hailed as a “watershed moment” from industry peak bodies who have traditionally advocated for s...Read more

Salary
Coles asked to disprove $115m in alleged wage theft
One of Australia’s biggest supermarkets faces allegations that it underpaid more than 7,500 employees a total of $115 million. ...Read more

Salary
Gen Z left behind in progress to gender equality
Women under 25 may emerge from the pandemic in a worse financial position than when it began, new research has shown. ...Read more

Salary
Show me the money: I deserve a COVID recognition payment, and so do you
Staff are currently in high demand. But they’re also mostly overworked, overtired, underplayed and underpaid. ...Read more

Salary
Is Australia headed for the ‘Great Resignation’?
A wave of resignations from Australian workers is expected in the next six months. ...Read more

Salary
Earnings surge in lockdown, but is a slump ahead?
A new report from CBA has shown that it may actually pay to be in lockdown, as growth in household income surged ahead in NSW and Victoria. ...Read more

Salary
RBA sets sights on 4% unemployment
The RBA has updated its key objectives in order to jolt the Australian economy into growth, including a two-decade low unemployment rate of 4 per cent. ...Read more

Wrapping up an eventful 2021
Listen now

What Omicron means for property, and are units right for first-time buyers? What is equity crowdfunding? Are industry super funds tapping into member funds to save their skins?
Listen now

Will housing affordability improve in 2022? Will buy now, pay later become the norm? Why are Aussies staying in failing super products?
Listen now

Who really benefits from crypto ETFs? How will the RBA respond to rising inflation? Could a mandate help address unpaid super?
Listen now

Salary
Employers scrambling to prevent workplace brain drain
As workplace managers face a swiftly evolving employment market that’s increasingly favouring the demands of white-collar employees and jobseekers, bosses are falling under mounting pressure to pres...Read more

Salary
Unions back Albanese’s pledge to close gender pay gap
An electoral promise from Labor to make gender pay equity an objective of the Fair Work Act has been hailed as a “watershed moment” from industry peak bodies who have traditionally advocated for s...Read more

Salary
Coles asked to disprove $115m in alleged wage theft
One of Australia’s biggest supermarkets faces allegations that it underpaid more than 7,500 employees a total of $115 million. ...Read more

Salary
Gen Z left behind in progress to gender equality
Women under 25 may emerge from the pandemic in a worse financial position than when it began, new research has shown. ...Read more

Salary
Show me the money: I deserve a COVID recognition payment, and so do you
Staff are currently in high demand. But they’re also mostly overworked, overtired, underplayed and underpaid. ...Read more

Salary
Is Australia headed for the ‘Great Resignation’?
A wave of resignations from Australian workers is expected in the next six months. ...Read more

Salary
Earnings surge in lockdown, but is a slump ahead?
A new report from CBA has shown that it may actually pay to be in lockdown, as growth in household income surged ahead in NSW and Victoria. ...Read more

Salary
RBA sets sights on 4% unemployment
The RBA has updated its key objectives in order to jolt the Australian economy into growth, including a two-decade low unemployment rate of 4 per cent. ...Read more