| Generous incentives to maintain trade skills in your business
Unsure whether you can take on or keep your apprentice? Be careful – the bad old days of skills shortages could be back sooner than you think.
Prior to the recent economic downturn, Australian industry faced a significant shortage of skilled workers in many sectors. With many tradesmen expected to retire or move on in the next few years, the future of your business will rely on maintaining a supply of skilled tradespeople to take their place.
If your business doesn’t invest in trade skills during the downturn, you could be caught short when the economy recovers.
Given that it can take up to four years to complete a trade, smart employers are avoiding the 'skills lag' and continuing to employ and train apprentices by:
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considering a shorter term commitment, such as a 12 month traineeship, that could lead into a trade apprenticeship on completion
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offering existing staff trade apprenticeships and fast-tracking their training by applying to your training provider for 'skills recognition'
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hosting apprentices on a short term basis through a Group Training Organisation
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making the most of senior staff downtime to train and retrain while demand recovers
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reducing unproductive time by negotiating for on the job training delivery and assessment with your training provider
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offering unpaid work placement to students who’ve already completed a pre-vocational training.
Additional incentives
Generous additional incentives are available to employers to employ and train trade apprentices:
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up to $4,000 in standard Australian Apprenticeship commencement/completion incentives
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$1,000 bonus incentive when your apprentice completes their apprenticeship in a targeted skill shortage occupation on the National Skills Needs List in 2009 or 2010
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$1,800 wage subsidy payable after 3 months if you employ an apprentice who has been laid off in 2009 or 2010
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up to $13,000 in wage support to employers of trade apprentices that are aged 30 and over in a targeted skills shortage occupation that pay an adult apprenticeship wage (25 years and over from 1 January 2010).
Placement Service
The NSW Department of Education and Training provides a register of retrenched apprentices and trainees looking for an employer at: Continuing Apprentices Placement Service.
Western Sydney Industry Apprenticeship Project
The Western Sydney Industry Apprenticeship Project is an independent one stop shop to connect you with jobseekers ready to take on an apprenticeship or traineeship.
The project can help you:
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connect to jobseekers who have already completed prevocational training in your industry
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streamline the recruitment process
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access eligible government incentives
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promote trade apprenticeships to both young and mature aged people
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retain your new apprentice/trainee with 3 months of support and mentoring
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upskill, re-skill and fast track training for older workers including recognition of prior learning.
To find out more about how your business can benefit, please contact ABLAC's Client Service Centre.
t: 1300 652 236
e: info@ablac.com.au
This project is being funded under the Workforce Innovation Program on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. | 
