NRSET Recommendation 2: Increasing the Number of Trade Professionals

Recommendation 2.1 – Increasing the number of apprentices in the resources sector

This initiative is being lead by the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) and Australian Petroleum Production Exploration Association (APPEA).                            

Industry will work with stakeholders to develop strategies to further increase apprenticeships and improve the quality of apprenticeships data. Options include a roundtable discussion and the development of training precincts and using e-learning to increase access for trainees at remote sites. Support is available for apprenticeshipsthrough the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program and the Australian Government Skills Connect service (which provides access to government support for skills training, competency based apprenticeship projects, apprentice mentoring, literacy training, and career training for mature age workers).

The Resource Channel contacted both APPEA and MCA requesting a progress statement on this initiative but at the time of publication, a response had not been received.

Recommendation 2.2 – Trial of alternative apprenticeship models

This initiative is being lead by theDepartment of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education(DIISRTE).

Industry and enterprises will implement competency-based apprenticeships more widely across the resources and construction sectors. Support is available for competency based apprenticeshipsthrough the Accelerated Australian Apprenticeships initiative and Australian Apprenticeships Mentoring package. The industry led National Apprenticeship Program will see 1,000 adult apprentices every 18 months have their existing skills recognised and complete all the competencies required to gain a trade qualification without comprising on quality. Good practice stories that highlight apprenticeship models that address the resources sector’s workforce needs will be developed and distributed.

The first intake of 1,000 adult apprentices under the National Apprenticeship Program is well advanced.  Participants have been selected from both the existing resources sector workforce as well as anyone with the appropriate experience interested in moving to the resources sector. To be eligible for selection, participants must undertake an assessment for recognition of prior learning (RPL) for at least 40% of competencies for a relevant trade.

East Coast Apprenticeships are managing the project in association with training organisations in Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales and South Australia together with resources sectorenterprises, and the Minerals Council of Australia. Skills Tech Australia, a large public provider of trade and technician training, has accepted a role to coordinate nationally all state and territory training providers for this project. The Australian Government is providing co-funding of $2 million to support this industry-led project. 

Over 20 Electrical Fitters and Diesel Fitters are already working with Anglo American Metallurgical Coal on mine sites in Central Queensland. 

On 15 November 2011, Bechtel announced a commitment to support 400 apprentices utilising this program to meet the demands for the construction of 3 LNG plants in Gladstone Queensland.  

In February 2012, Macmahon announced an intake of 300 apprentices under this program.

Recommendation 2.3 – Coordinated workforce development strategy to boost the number of apprentices in the Gladstone region

This initiative is being lead bySkills Queensland.            

Skills Queensland will work with stakeholders to undertake research, consultation and preparation of a Gladstone Regional Workforce Development Plan in 2011. The Plan will be implemented in 2012 and advice will be provided about the possibilities for replicating this model in other regions in 2013. To support this recommendation, Skills Queensland will target additional apprenticeship commencements under the Joint Group Training Program and Strategic Investment Fund.

Skills Queensland has now commissioned research into the skills and workforce needs of the Gladstone region and is working with all levels of government represented in Gladstone – local, state and federal – to implement a workforce action plan to better coordinate the government engagement process for industry and business around skills and training.

Through its Strategic Investment Fund, Skills Queensland is partnering with a number of peak industry groups and enterprises to invest in targeted pre-apprenticeship and training programs to lift apprentice numbers in key occupations supporting the resources sector and its supply chain and in regions including Gladstone. Key investments have been made in electrical pre-apprenticeships, pre-trade metal fabrication and dual-trade qualifications in electrical and instrumentation.

The Queensland Government is also partnering with a number of stakeholders groups to address the skills needs of Gladstone’s industry through programs including Energy Skills Queensland’s Gladstone Workforce Skilling Strategy. The Queensland Government is also investing in apprenticeships through its User Choice Program and funding of the Central Queensland Institute of TAFE.

Central Queensland Institute of TAFE has submitted a proposal for funding under the Australian Government’s Education Investment Fund (EIF) to establish a “Gladstone Energy Training Centre”. If established, the facility would have a central role in providing training to support LNG and other industries in Gladstone. 

A number of key employers in the region have committed to innovative apprenticeship programs to grow the number of apprentices in Gladstone. Specific examples include Bechtel’s significant commitment to the National Apprenticeship Program and Santos and QGC’s commitment to apprenticeship programs which grow their workforce and at the same time benefit local industries, businesses and contracting firms.

Recommendation 2.4 – Assistance for workers to achieve full trade status

This initiative is being lead byIndustry Skills Councils (ISCs).             

The ISC’s,industry and the training sector will promote strategies to improve the uptake of recognition of prior learning (RPL)/recognition of current competencies (RCC) tools by enterprises and training organisations. The Australian Government Skills Connect service will support enterprises to help meet their training and workforce developments needs. Support includes the National Workforce Development Fund and Experience+ Training – More Help for Mature Age Workers program, which provides existing workers aged 50 years and over who have trade and related skills but no formal qualifications, the opportunity to undertake a skills assessment and gap training when required.

The Resource Channel contacted Industry Skills Councils requesting a progress statement on this initiative but at the time of publication, a response had not been received.

Recommendation 2.5 – Priority placed on up-skilling existing workers

This initiative is being lead by Industry Skills Councils(ISCs).                                                             

ISC’s will highlight good practice on-site training models, and work with industry champions to promote the uptake of workplace learning models. In the first half of 2012, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) will lead a project to examine the scope for Workplace Learning Representatives (WLRs) to promote up-skilling and increased productivity in the workplace. Government co-funding to upskill workers is available to enterprises through the Australian Government Skills Connect service. This may include training for workplace trainers and assessors.

The Resource Channel contacted Industry Skills Councils requesting a progress statement on this initiative but at the time of publication, a response had not been received.

Recommendation 2.6 – Employment services providers to work with unemployed tradespeople and technicians to link them with employment in the resources or construction sectors

This initiative is being led by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).                                             

Job Services Australia providers work with employers, including resource and construction employers, to ensure that appropriately qualified job seekers are referred to vacancies within their industries. The Connecting People with Jobs initiative has been extended from an expected cessation date of 30 June 2012 to 31 December 2012 to help facilitate the relocation of qualified job seekers to areas of need, including regional and remote. Data indicates that about one third of job seekers that have so far relocated under Connecting People with Jobs, relocated to positions within the resources and construction sectors.

Recommendation 2.7 – Assistance to unemployed, unqualified construction workers with significant experience to achieve full trade status or an adult apprenticeship 

This initiative is being led by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).                             

Job Services Australia providers provide assistance to all eligible job seekers through personalised and tailored assistance. This assistance includes connecting both retrenched workers and job seekers to Registered Training Organisations as required. Additionally, Job Services Australia providers can use the Employment Pathway Fund to assist job seekers overcome both vocational and non-vocational barriers to employment. This assistance can include, but is not limited to, tools, training courses, work experience, clothing, and transport costs. As part of assessing a job seeker’s training needs or eligibility for a position, a Job Services Australia provider may use the EPF to pay for skills assessments and recognition for prior learning which may assist unqualified workers gain full trade status.

Furthermore, the support for adult Australian Apprentices payment initiative is available to adult apprentices aged 25 years or over in a trade experiencing a skills shortage.

Recommendation 2.8 – Identifying tradespeople for further vocational education and training qualifications

This initiative is being lead byDepartment of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE).

DIISRTE will work with industry organisations and state agencies to encourage career transition training and employment for experienced workers to move into training, assessment, mentoring and supervising jobs. Government co-funding to up-skill workers is available to enterprises through the Australian Government Skills Connect service. Experience+ initiatives provide career advice and funding support for training for mature age workers.

The Resource Channel contacted the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education requesting a progress statement on this initiative but at the time of publication, a response had not been received.