❓ Ms. Collins asks about the government's apprenticeship support package and initiatives for local apprentices in the building and construction industry. The Minister outlines budget allocations, incentives, and support programs, highlighting increased funding and positive outcomes for apprentices.
AnsweredQoN 295Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TRAINING
AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT — BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION APPRENTICES
295. Ms C.M. COLLINS to the Minister for Training and
Workforce Development:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's commitment to supporting apprentices and creating local
jobs.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the apprenticeship support package in this
year's state budget will support and grow Western Australia's
construction workforce and get homes built sooner?
(2) Can the minister update the house on other
initiatives supporting the employment of more local apprentices in WA's
building and construction industry?
AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT — BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION APPRENTICES
295. Ms C.M. COLLINS to the Minister for Training and
Workforce Development:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's commitment to supporting apprentices and creating local
jobs.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the apprenticeship support package in this
year's state budget will support and grow Western Australia's
construction workforce and get homes built sooner?
(2) Can the minister update the house on other
initiatives supporting the employment of more local apprentices in WA's
building and construction industry?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question. As members in this house know, I love
getting up and talking about what we are doing in training in this state. As a government,
we are investing so much in training young people or anyone who wants to
improve their skills, wants to re-enter the workforce or is nervous about their
participation in a new career. We are there for them by providing additional
resources and support. That is no more the case than in building up our
construction workforce, which we know is crucial on a range of fronts but
particularly for housing.
I want to talk about some of the
initiatives in this year's budget. It totals an extra $52.3 million; it
is a really significant uplift. I thank the team at the construction training
fund and all the industry partners who have worked with us to understand how we
can best target this spending. First of all, we have incentives for building
and construction apprentices who are in the system now to complete their
apprenticeships. Along with a tool allowance, they can receive $5 000 in cash
across the course of their apprenticeship. They will get commencement, tool
allowance, milestone and completion payments to complete their apprenticeship.
That will be $5 000 cash to help them
get through their training period, which is fantastic. We have also increased
employer grants significantly, investing $26 million to uplift the amount of
contributions for the Construction Training Fund, an employer-based grant. That
means, at the moment, we have over 10 000 apprentices and trainees in building
and construction in this state. It is such a fantastic figure. This is not just
in the metro area; this is in our regions as well, with people who live out
there, connected to their community, doing the work and building new homes for
the community as well as throughout the state. It is really fantastic and a figure
I am very proud of.
We have increased bonuses for female
and mature-age apprentices. We have to look at increasing the female
participation in the building and construction industry. Tackling this is one
the last bastions really, and I know that industry leaders are acutely aware of
that and want to look at ways to increase the participation of women and
mature-age apprentices. The bonuses are from 20 to 40 per cent. It is really
fantastic. We increased the apprenticeship travel allowance, with over $470 000
to provide for regional apprentices and trainees. If they have to travel more
than 70 kilometres, they get some additional support.
Finally, the group training
organisation wage subsidy is really important. It all but pays for the full
cost of an apprentice for group training schemes. It is very important. We have
already funded about 450 local apprentices, and we recently announced a further
$21.5 million. It is fantastic. These are 450 apprentices whose wages are all
but paid for by this scheme. It is very good practical support.
I give a shout-out to Sam and Tyson,
who I met on the weekend, when making this budget announcement. They are
employed by Kardan Construction, which is an Aboriginal-controlled construction
company. I first met them at Fremantle Prison. They have gone on to do work for
the Department of Communities at Boorloo Bidee Mia and other projects. They are
doing so well. Sam is a mature-age apprentice who recently has bought her first
house. As a result of the support of this government and organisations like
Kardan Construction, a woman working in building construction, when she
finishes her time—I am sure she will—has work for the rest of
her life and gets the keys to her first house. All strength to Sam, and to
Tyson as well, and all the crew at Kardan Construction.
Just quickly, I wonder whether anyone
here can think of one thing that the Liberal–National party did to
improve apprentices and trainees when it was in office. If members can think of
anything, just direct message me. I would be really interested to know, because
I cannot think of anything!
thank the member for the question. As members in this house know, I love
getting up and talking about what we are doing in training in this state. As a government,
we are investing so much in training young people or anyone who wants to
improve their skills, wants to re-enter the workforce or is nervous about their
participation in a new career. We are there for them by providing additional
resources and support. That is no more the case than in building up our
construction workforce, which we know is crucial on a range of fronts but
particularly for housing.
I want to talk about some of the
initiatives in this year's budget. It totals an extra $52.3 million; it
is a really significant uplift. I thank the team at the construction training
fund and all the industry partners who have worked with us to understand how we
can best target this spending. First of all, we have incentives for building
and construction apprentices who are in the system now to complete their
apprenticeships. Along with a tool allowance, they can receive $5 000 in cash
across the course of their apprenticeship. They will get commencement, tool
allowance, milestone and completion payments to complete their apprenticeship.
That will be $5 000 cash to help them
get through their training period, which is fantastic. We have also increased
employer grants significantly, investing $26 million to uplift the amount of
contributions for the Construction Training Fund, an employer-based grant. That
means, at the moment, we have over 10 000 apprentices and trainees in building
and construction in this state. It is such a fantastic figure. This is not just
in the metro area; this is in our regions as well, with people who live out
there, connected to their community, doing the work and building new homes for
the community as well as throughout the state. It is really fantastic and a figure
I am very proud of.
We have increased bonuses for female
and mature-age apprentices. We have to look at increasing the female
participation in the building and construction industry. Tackling this is one
the last bastions really, and I know that industry leaders are acutely aware of
that and want to look at ways to increase the participation of women and
mature-age apprentices. The bonuses are from 20 to 40 per cent. It is really
fantastic. We increased the apprenticeship travel allowance, with over $470 000
to provide for regional apprentices and trainees. If they have to travel more
than 70 kilometres, they get some additional support.
Finally, the group training
organisation wage subsidy is really important. It all but pays for the full
cost of an apprentice for group training schemes. It is very important. We have
already funded about 450 local apprentices, and we recently announced a further
$21.5 million. It is fantastic. These are 450 apprentices whose wages are all
but paid for by this scheme. It is very good practical support.
I give a shout-out to Sam and Tyson,
who I met on the weekend, when making this budget announcement. They are
employed by Kardan Construction, which is an Aboriginal-controlled construction
company. I first met them at Fremantle Prison. They have gone on to do work for
the Department of Communities at Boorloo Bidee Mia and other projects. They are
doing so well. Sam is a mature-age apprentice who recently has bought her first
house. As a result of the support of this government and organisations like
Kardan Construction, a woman working in building construction, when she
finishes her time—I am sure she will—has work for the rest of
her life and gets the keys to her first house. All strength to Sam, and to
Tyson as well, and all the crew at Kardan Construction.
Just quickly, I wonder whether anyone
here can think of one thing that the Liberal–National party did to
improve apprentices and trainees when it was in office. If members can think of
anything, just direct message me. I would be really interested to know, because
I cannot think of anything!
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