BUDGET: Australian Government invests $45 million in Skills Connect Fund

A new Skills Connect Fund will provide industry with a single point of access for skills and workforce development support. The Government will invest
$45 million in the Skills Connect Fund, which will remove the need for businesses to negotiate multiple programs and application processes.

The Skills Connect Fund will make it easier for employers by allowing access to skills and workforce development support through a single gateway. Support will be available for enterprises wishing to up-skill their existing employees, including mature age workers and job-entry training for new employees.

Whole-of-workforce projects could also include foundation skills and mentoring support to facilitate better training and productivity outcomes.

Joint Media Release: Connecting skills with industry (Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, the Hon Dr Craig Emerson MP, and the Minister for Higher Education and Skills, the Hon Sharon Bird MP)

More information and draft guidelines will be available from this website shortly.

Alternative Pathways to the Trades pilot

Over four years from 2013-2014, the Alternative Pathways to the Trades pilot will trial new training models for trade and technical occupations as an alternative to the time-based apprenticeships model. The Government will invest more than $68 million in the pilot, trialling industry-led and innovative approaches to training and targeting areas of skills demand.

The measures announced in the Budget will aim to make the training and apprenticeships systems more flexible and responsive to meet Australia’s current and future workforce needs. The initiative will be implemented from 1 July 2013.

Further information is available from the Australian Apprenticeships website

Skills Connect: supporting business and industry with workforce development

The Australian Government recognises that lifting workforce participation and improving the skill level of workers are critical to addressing labour and skill shortages, improving productivity, maximising employment opportunities for the disadvantaged and helping to meet Australia’s long-term economic challenges.

Skills Connect draws upon a range of strategic regional and industry based service partnerships, whose core business is to assist and advise Australian enterprises with business and workforce planning. These service delivery providers aim to provide consistent, clear workforce development messages for business and industry. They have connections to appropriate information and support through the suite of initiatives available to meet business needs.

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