Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery today announced a new pilot program to increase the number and capability of new workers entering the civil construction industry.
The McGowan Government has joined with industry to establish the four-year pilot program to help meet increasing industry demand for skilled workers.
Specific civil construction qualifications in Western Australia are changing from a traineeship to an apprenticeship, extending the duration of training from 24 months to 36 months with the aim of improving skills and employment opportunities.
This change will result in the State’s first cohort of civil construction apprentices, who will receive a trade certificate on completion of their Certificate III qualification.
To ensure that employers and apprentices are not disadvantaged by the transition to the new qualifications, the new $5.99 million pilot program will cover the wage gap created by the change. This is being funded by the Construction Training Fund (CTF) and has been developed in conjunction with the Civil Contractors Federation WA and the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union.
A wage subsidy of up to $14,000 will be provided to employers who engage junior apprentices (under the age of 21) and wage gap funding will be provided for 50 directly employed mature-age civil construction apprenticeships.
The CTF’s existing base grant, currently offered to employers who hire an apprentice, has been increased from $8,000 to $10,000.
This Employer Support Grant is intended to subsidise the costs incurred by the employment and training of an apprentice during the term of the training contract.
Throughout the four-year pilot program, it is anticipated that about 250 junior apprentice wages will be subsidised and more than 1,200 new apprentices are expected to commence in the civil construction sector.
For more information visit dtwd.wa.gov.au/apprenticeship-office#useful-fact-sheets or https://ctf.wa.gov.au/.
As stated by Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery:
“The McGowan Government has been working directly with industries to support efforts to increase the capability of their workforces and produce more skilled workers to meet increasing industry demand.
“We are committed to investing in training and working to build a skilled Western Australian workforce.
“This initiative will improve the quality of training in civil construction and create robust career pathways into the industry, while ensuring a pipeline of junior and mature-age qualified apprentices.
“The program was developed extensively with industry and will go a long way in assisting the civil construction industry to train employees and deliver on key civil infrastructure projects.”
