A pilot program that will “better meet” the skill needs of the industry and provide more flexibility than the usual three to four year training periods has had more than $68 million invested by the federal government.
The Alternative Pathways pilot will trial new models for trade and technical occupations as a different approach to the ‘time-based’ apprenticeships model.
The pilot was announced in the Budget yesterday (May 14), with the aim of meeting Australia’s current and future workforce needs, as well as making apprenticeship and training systems more flexible.
Alternative Pathways will begin on July 1 2013 and will be implemented over the next four years.
More intensive periods of institutional-based training in conjunction with “streamlined periods” of structured workplace learning may be involved in the pilot.
“Traditional apprenticeships have served the nation well and will continue to be a valuable way to obtain skills,” minister for Tertiary Education Craig Emerson.
“However, this program looks at alternative ways to deliver training so we can increase the number of ‘job ready’ Australians in areas of high demand.”
Minister for Higher Education and Skills Sharon Bird added that the program will help meet the future skills needs more effectively and efficiently.
