$100 million to increase apprentice commencements

The Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, and the Minister for Employment Participation, Senator the Hon Mark Arbib MP, have announced a $100 million Apprentice Kickstart program aimed at supporting up to 21,000 people entering traditional trades this summer.

Under the initiative, the commencement bonus paid to employers will increase from $1,500 to $2,350 and the nine month bonus will rise from $2,500 to $4,850 for taking on an apprentice during the summer recruitment period. Some $20 million of the funds will be allocated to pre-apprenticeship initiatives.

The announcement coincides with the release of the Keep Australia Working report which showed a 20 per cent drop in trade apprentice commencements during the economic downturn. The report follows the completion of the Keep Australia Working forums held across Australia by Lindsay Fox and Bill Kelty, with the final forum held at Werribee, on the campus of (TDA member) Victoria University, at which Minister Gillard held a press conference .

Click here to see the announcement. Click here to view the Keep Australia Working report.