Helping South Australians get ready for work | WPN World People News

The Gillard Government is giving young people in South Australia more access to pre apprenticeship training opportunities, through a $3.5 million investment through the Apprentice Kickstart package.

Education Minister, Simon Crean, and South Australian Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education Jack Snelling, announced today an additional 500 pre-apprenticeship training places in South Australia.

Mr Crean said this initiative will help young South Australians get work in traditional trade apprenticeships, such as plumbing, carpentry and electrical trades.

“The training places will be available for courses which build up skills to increase the chances of securing an apprenticeship.

“The focus is particularly on Indigenous people and young people under 19 years of age, in areas with higher rates of unemployment.”

“These projects will help young Australians achieve their goals of working in a trade, while helping to develop a highly-skilled workforce to move the South Australian economy forward.”

Mr Snelling said that the more skills young people have under their belts, the more attractive it is for employers to take them on as apprentices.

“That’s why this scheme fits well with the State Government’s commitment to invest $194 million to help create an extra 100,000 apprenticeships and training places to keep driving our economic boom. This should provide qualifications to about an extra 40,000 people in trades and other skills.”

The Apprentice Kickstart training will be based on a shortened and successfully tested pre-apprenticeship model, including work placements, mentoring arrangements and other forms of support, such as language, literacy and numeracy skills; and negotiating apprenticeships with prospective employers.

This training aims to support Australian Apprenticeship opportunities for young Australians and builds on the Government’s Apprenticeship Kickstart Bonus, which has already encouraged employers to take on more than 24,000 apprentices between December 2009 and February 2010.

Source:Deewr.gov.au