|
Employment, Education & Training
- NT Occupation Shortage List 2009 Released. Please click here for further information.
- Draft NT Employment Strategy. Please click here for more information.
Objectives
- To increase the number of apprentices and trainees in the NT
- To increase the employment of Indigenous people, particularly in apprenticeships and traineeships
- To increase the number of mature aged apprentices and trainees
- To increase the employment of people with disabilities.
Apprenticeships and Traineeships
There are a large number of apprenticeships and traineeships available in the NT. For a complete list click here
The Employment Education & Training team can assist you with a suitable training plan for a particular apprentice or trainee.
Are you looking for advice on career options? Know what you would like to do but not sure what is available? click here
Do your employees lack formal qualifications? Let us know so that we can help provide solutions for your up-skill issues.
Incentives for Employers & Employees
The Australian Government has provided the following incentives for employers who take on apprentices or trainees:
- Apprenticeship or traineeship commencement and completion
- Mature Aged apprentice or trainee
- Apprentice or trainee with a disability
- School-based apprentice or trainee
- Apprentice or trainee in rural and regional skills shortage area
- Apprentice or trainee in declared drought area
- For further information please click here
Other financial incentives available to workers wishing to gain a skill or upgrade existing skills:
- Work Skills Vouchers for workers aged 25 + with no Year 12 certificate wishing to gain Year 12 certificate or Certificate II
- Incentives for workers aged 30 + enrolling in an apprenticeship or traineeship at Certificate III or IV level
- Business Skills Vouchers for apprentices or trainees who undertake accredited small business skills training
- Incentives for workers to undertake Diploma and Advanced Diploma level qualifications.
- For more information please click here
The Australian Government recently announced further support in the form of Apprenticeship Training Vouchers and Tax-free Wage Top-up for Australian Apprentices:
- Apprenticeship Training Vouchers are available for apprentices undertaking an eligible apprenticeship in a trade experiencing a skills shortage, or by their employers, to help meet the cost of course fees associated with their apprenticeship. Up to $500 reimbursement is available for the first two years of the apprenticeship (a total of $1,000).
- the Apprenticeshp Wages Top-up is a tax-free payment of $2,000, paid in four instalments of $500 during the apprenticeship. This is payable to new or existing first and second year apprentices, under the age of 30 at the time of starting the apprenticeship, and undertaking an apprenticeship in a trade experiencing a skills shortage.
To find out if you are eligible, contact the Apprenticeships Australia NT on 1300 137 130.
The Northern Territory government provides additional grants and incentives to employers including:
- Small Business Employer Incentive
- Skill Shortage Trades Employer Incentives
- Eligible Skill Shortage Trades List
- Workwear/Workgear Bonus Information
- Please click here for further information
Work Based Learning
Thank you to the many members who are involved in providing secondary school students with experience in a work environment. We encourage all members to take the opportunity to give young people a taste of the different industries and trades available by participating in one of the following programs:
- Work experience - A placement of up to a week allowing the student to experience actual work conditions. The aim being to encourage further participation in your industry or, just as importantly, making the student aware of their lack of interest/compatability with your industry. A good chance for the employer to view a range of students before making a job offer.
- Structured Workplace Learning - The student, as part of a vocational course, attends the workplace one or two days per week for approximately six weeks and undertakes agreed work tasks and training on the way to achieving some part of a vocational qualification. Again the opportunity is there for the student to confirm interest, and the employer to see perhaps a potential employee in a work context, before any commitment to employ is made.
- VET in Schools - As part of the students aim to achieve an NTCE qualification, they can use points accrued in a vocational course towards their overall score. This training is offered both within the school and in Structured Workplace Learning (see above).
- School Based Apprenticeships and Trainees - These are usually taken up by students in years 10 and 11 where they have decided to undertake a vocational pathway but still wish to achieve a pass in Year 12 NTCE. An apprentice or trainee will normally undertake two days paid work for the employer, one day of vocational training and two days of normal school. It is normal for them to complete their first year of apprenticeship training in this way before they start work full-time for their second year.
- Adopt a School - Local Community Partnerships encourage businesses to ‘adopt’ a school(s) so they can five young people hands-on learning experiences in a specific industry sector – preferably an emerging sector or one where there is a skills need. Local Community Partnerships are supported by their Regional Industry Career Advisers.
- Career Expos - These are run in the main urban areas of the Territory, normally in August each year. They are used to promote occupations to students so that they have an understanding of what is available to them in terms of career choices. Obviously if your industry/occupation is not represented, it may not become an option for students to consider. We are keen to work with industry and occupational groups to ensure full coverage of career options at these events.
- Remote Career Expos - As above but conducted throughout the year as arranged in the various communities and wherever possible include a hands-on trade demonstration, usually in construction or automotive skills.
- Industry Sector Promotion - We are keen to work with the various industry sectors to promote the career opportunities available to students. In many cases students are not aware of the choices available to them. The more successful employers are active in the promotion of their industry/occupation and create relationships with students while they are still at school.
Future Initiatives
As well as the Regional Industry Career Advisory and ETA initiatives, the Employment, Education and Training team is currently engaged in seeking government funding and support for three future initiatives that will impact on members:
- Managing Waste: A project to introduce waste auditing into the Northern Territory and assist business to improve waste management practices.
- Mentoring of Indigenous Employees and their Employers. Our proposal is to fund mentors to assist members to recruit and retain Indigenous employees including apprentices and trainees.
- A "Job Shop". A project to assist members to recruit suitable school leavers as apprentices or trainees while assisting school leavers by providing details of vacancies and conditions.
Workforce NT
The Workforce NT Report 2006 focuses on key topics related to the Northern Territory's labour market and provides an industry perspective on economic and workforce matters. It contains information on the approaches from business to overcoming recruitment difficulties and staff turnover, and looks at industry's use of the training system.
Jobs Plan 3
Jobs Plan 3 is a comprehensive long-term strategy to create a highly skilled and flexible workplace and to maximise employment opportunities for all Territorians. It complements existing Northern Territory economic and industry strategies, and provides a broad and co-ordinated approach to planning for jobs and future growth.
Employability Skills
The Chamber of Commerce NT provides advice to employers and employees on employability skills required in the workforce, click here for more information.
|
