Building better construction careers

The Hon Jeremy Rockliff MP, Minister for Education and Training

The Hon Dan Tehan MP, Federal Minister for Education

Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business

50 Tasmanians across the North West of the State will have the chance to build their own careers in the building and construction industry through the new $350,000 Building Futures Program.

A key part of the $3.9 million North West Job Ready Generation Package, a joint project between the Commonwealth and the Tasmanian Government, will see 35 pre-apprenticeships and 15 full apprenticeships supported across a range of construction related trades such as carpentry, joinery, plastering and painting.

The Federal Government provided $350,000 towards the project with the Tasmanian Building and Construction Industry Training Board investing $250,000 of its own funding to the program.

It will capitalise on the range of major construction projects set to kick off in the North West to provide opportunities for both the building and construction industry and jobseekers in the region.

The program will also equip local industry to deliver on the significant construction pipeline in the region by providing a pool of work ready apprentices.

Delivered by the Tasmanian Building Group Apprenticeship Scheme, the program will also be supported by Skills Tasmania and is funded by the Australian Government and the Tasmanian Building and Construction Industry Training Board.

Already the Tasmanian Building Group Apprenticeship Scheme has been working with local businesses and local schools to provide a range of training opportunities for local students and job seekers.

These new apprenticeships are in addition to the more than 400 new apprentices that have been created in Tasmania through the Commonwealth Government’s Additional Identified Skills Shortage Payment that commenced on 1 July 2019.

The Australian Government is committed to providing greater flexibility across VET and higher education qualifications to ensure our education providers and students meet employer demand for certain skills.

The Tasmanian majority Liberal Government has a plan to ensure the state has the skilled workforce it needs to need to support our growing economy.

/Public Release. View in full here.