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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.
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