Redesign and refocus key support services currently delivered by the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network to increase apprenticeship completion rates and the diversity of the apprentice workforce.
The Government will provide additional funding of $54.3 million over 5 years from from 1 July 2024. The model will redesign and refocus key support services currently delivered by the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network to increase apprenticeship completion rates and the diversity of the apprentice workforce. Grant funding of $5.0 million over 3 years from 2024-25 will be provided to organisations with appropriate expertise in supporting women in the workplace, to further support women in historically male dominated trade apprenticeships. This will include providing education, advice or support to increase culturally safe and inclusive workplaces, reduce the cultural barriers to women's participation, address workplace challenges and support businesses to attract and retain women. The new model will also provide support to women who commence their non-traditional trade apprenticeships prior to 1 July 2024 during their transition to new service arrangements. This measure delivers on the Government's commitment from the Jobs and Skills Summit to explore options to improve the apprenticeship support system and drive-up completions. It will also assist employers linked to major and flagship construction projects to meet their targets for apprentices and women under the Australian Skills Guarantee. The cost of this measure will be offset by savings achieved from streamlining Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System service arrangements by transferring the processing of wage subsidy claims from Services Australia to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and providers. Finance | Finance