By CASEY NEILL
DANDENONG youths can test-drive apprenticeships in four careers through a new program.
From July, secondary students and unemployed youths can take up short-term apprenticeships in the engineering, automotive, business services, building and construction, and agricultural industries.
Skillinvest CEO John Ackland said its two-year pilot program was receiving $6.8 million in Federal Government funding.
The program is designed to improve national apprenticeship participation and completion rates, and address growing skills shortages.
“Young people will explore a range of vocation options and make informed career decisions based on their experiences and interests, before signing up for a full apprenticeship,” Mr Ackland said.
“For local businesses, this means that we’ll be able to better identify and match suitable apprentices, helping them to find the best possible fit.”
The new School-Based Apprenticeship will be open to Year 10 and 11 students, and they’ll participate in work placements one day per week for 12 months.
The full-time Pre-Apprenticeship program is targeted at recent graduates and unemployed youths, who will complete their placements over six months.
Mr Ackland said Skillinvest would look to partner with schools and colleges, TAFE, youth organisations and businesses in Dandenong and surrounds over the coming months, “to recruit participants and roll out this exciting new pilot”.
South East Local Learning and Education Network (SELLEN) CEO Andrew Simmons said the program looked like a great opportunity for young people and could have a positive impact in a number of ways.
“Completion rates for apprenticeships are relatively low when compared to other vocational training, for a variety of reasons,” he said.
“This program will allow students and young jobseekers to trial a few different industries before making their mind up on the trade they may pursue, hopefully increasing the completion rates.”
Mr Simmons said entry level jobs were becoming harder to find.
“This program will assist in giving young people a taste of the workplace in a range of settings, increasing their knowledge of the expectations of employers and their future employability,” he said.
Visit skillinvest.com.au or call 1300 308 620 for more information.
