ACTION PLAN GIVES APPRENTICES AND TRAINEES MORE SUPPORT

The Beattie Government’s latest strategy to address the skills shortage was unveiled today by Education and Training Minister Rod Welford.

The Train to Retain Action Plan aims to ensure apprentices and trainees complete their full trade qualifications to become valued members of Queensland’s skilled workforce.

“Not only attracting, but retaining apprentices and trainees, is vital to addressing the skills shortage and ensuring Queensland’s future industry growth,” Mr Welford said.

“The Action Plan is a response to the Training Ombudsman’s report into improving workplace practices for apprentices, which was undertaken as part of the $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan.

“The Action Plan’s strategies aim to make workplaces more attractive for Queensland’s 82,000 apprentices and trainees.”

Mr Welford said the Skills Plan was paying dividends just 16 months after it was launched, with Queensland outperforming the rest of the nation in the uptake of apprenticeships and traineeships.

“Figures released last week show that 57,500 Queenslanders started their apprenticeships or traineeships in the 12 months to December 2006,” he said.

“That represents a nine percent increase in Queensland compared to the national growth of 1.7 per cent.

“We have already started to implement steps to improve retention rates, such as doubling travel allowances for apprentices and establishing an apprentice information hotline.

“Today I’m calling on industry groups, employers, training providers and educators to work with us to implement the new Action Plan.

“This Action Plan outlines a range of strategies to improve apprentice retention, including an education program which will help build supportive workplaces and improved reporting systems.”

Mr Welford also thanked the members of the newly formed reference group, who will develop a co-ordinated approach to delivering the Action Plan strategies.

Reference group members are: Peter Ruhanen (Chair) – Training Ombudsman; Rosemary Potter - Commerce Queensland; Lee Norris -Queensland Council of Unions; Matthew Patten - Australian Manufacturing Workers Union; Matthew Traynor - Australian Industry Group; Vivienne Mallinson - Busy Inc; Dave Mitchell - Group Training Australia; Michael Hall - Australian Council for Private Education and Training; Sharon Larch - Young Workers Advisory Service; Kate Ormsby and Debra Wheeldon - SkillsTech Australia; Deborah Walker and Ray Ashford - Department of Education, Training and the Arts; and Shane Stockhill and Tamara Roberts - Department of Employment and Industrial Relations.

Media contact: Emma Clarey on 3237 1000 or 0417 791 336