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[NSW] FREE: 100,000 Apprenticeship Courses over Four Years @ TAFE & non-TAFE Providers

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[NSW] FREE: 100,000 Apprenticeship Courses over Four Years @ TAFE & non-TAFE Providers
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tightarse on 18/06/2018 - 13:57 abc.net.au (3324 clicks)
Last edited 18/06/2018 - 14:04

Aspiring tradies in NSW will no longer have to pay up to $3000 in fees to learn hospitality, plumbing, carpentry or bricklaying skills. The $285 million plan, to be included in Tuesday's state budget, will fund 100,000 apprenticeships over the next four years and will be on offer in any course at TAFE and non-TAFE providers.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro says the program will remove all barriers for anyone considering an apprenticeship. "We want to get rid of the final obstacle we believe is an impediment," Mr Barilaro told reporters in Sydney on Monday. "This, I hope, will turbo charge how many people will look at becoming a tradie going forward."

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian believes the program will make the state the "tradie and jobs capital" of Australia. The premier predicts TAFE enrolments will also increase "substantially" because of the program (source: nine news)

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closed Comments

  • syousef on 18/06/2018 - 14:07
    +23

    A step in the right direction but damn I'd be spitting chips if I was already doing or had just done an apprenticeship. I do hope it's regulated well enough that private companies don't rort the system at taxpayer and student expense.

    • [Deactivated] on 18/06/2018 - 14:29
      +10

      I do hope it's regulated well enough that private companies don't rort the system at taxpayer and student expense.

      I suppose there's gotta be a first time.

      • syousef on 18/06/2018 - 14:35

        TAFE worked well for decades. Private companies are much harder I grant you.

        • [Deactivated] on 18/06/2018 - 14:53

          it certainly did, along with CAE's. But they weren't free, just subsidised and not really rorted. Free OTOH tends to get rorted. And this include non-TAFE providers hence my comment, as the private sector isn't in it just to provide education to students, like TAFE/CAE's were.

        • syousef on 18/06/2018 - 15:51
          +1

          @supabrudda:

          We had free University and TAFE between 1974 and 1989.

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertiary_education_fees_in_Aus…

          It got too expensive, but wasn't ended due to the kinds of blatant rorting we see today.

    • King Steuart on 18/06/2018 - 22:57
      +1

      You mean like RTO's?

  • GG57 on 18/06/2018 - 14:11

    Probably need to wait for the full announcement for the full details, but I wonder how this will work.
    - Is there a max of free placements in each course?
    - If so, is it just first in, best dressed?
    - Will there be a requirement to finish the course, or can students attend and drop out later?

    This approach is a different take on the earlier Victoria announcement, where specific courses were nominated (on the basis that these were a priority to address shortages), the eligibility conditions were stated, and a phone service was in place to provide support / handle enquiries.

  • rack on 18/06/2018 - 14:14
    -8

    Hmm I am not too sure this will work in attracting higher numbers of students signing up for apprenticeships. For all I know the apprentice never paid their fees anyways. It was always paid for by the company including any textbooks.

    It's not the fees preventing apprentices signing up. It's sheer laziness. People not willing to work. Look up seek and see the number of available positions for apprentices. Where is everyone? Oh wait lining up at centerlink for the handouts.

    • XVX on 18/06/2018 - 14:21
      +6

      As someone who is trying to get an apprenticeship, this would help me greatly as most apprenticeships expect a Cert or experience within that area, which has made it extremely hard for me as I have neither of those in any of the fields of work I am looking to do an apprenticeship in. This will allow me to get started on a Cert as I have been ineligible to receive a Cert course paid for by the government as I already have a Cert III in another area.

      It is extremely false to say that there are not enough people willing to start these apprenticeships, as every single time I call and ask about apprentice positions, they have received a few hundred applications and getting your application picked out of that bunch is like playing the lottery. I can see this program being especially useful for people interested in a mature aged apprenticeship too, which is great.

    • R1V3N on 18/06/2018 - 14:32
      +9

      Goes to show how out of touch you are, took me 9 months of applications to find a place willing to take on a mature age apprentice. Secondly a lot of apprentice recruitment places do in fact make the apprentice pay the fees, i didn't have to but the younger boys here all have to pay. Just because it was different for yourself don't go writing off a whole demographic, for all you know eh?

    • MessyG on 18/06/2018 - 15:18

      Oh for goodness' sake, what a silly broad brush. Your misanthropy is yours alone.

  • punkindrublic on 18/06/2018 - 14:16

    In 13 Days

    Um, the proposal still needs to be put into law and then into operation. It might be a little longer than two weeks for 'free' apprenticeships…

    • pifts on 18/06/2018 - 14:30
      +1

      It's a policy and the article says the new policy will be implemented 1st July.

  • kev98 on 18/06/2018 - 14:18
    +7

    Fee is usually 14k but subsidised by government so out of pocket costs 2k. 2k usually covered by employer anyway

  • tsunamisurfer on 18/06/2018 - 14:19
    +9

    This is a recipe for disaster….we have already seen how private providers have rorted the system, now with it being completely free,, they will be out in full force.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/06/2018 - 16:35

      Some private providers are far higher quality than TAFE who are paid by the government whatever standards they churn out. They cannot be allowed to fail. Private providers can also provide fully funded Apprenticeships where the employer pays a nominal fee for the training but receives thousands of dollars in cash and tax incentives. The Apprentice pays nothing but receives a useful qualification that will actually keep them in a job. Yes some private providers have rorted the system but many provide a really good service and are struggling because the actions of a few money grabbers have tarnished the whole industry.

      • resisting the urge on 02/07/2018 - 17:14

        The same argument can be used to argue that the government can only let so many private providers fail too.

        What standards are being met? That was the point, the metrics used were not standards, or very applicable ones, and metrics were rubbery at best. Apart from that, many just didn't do any paperwork anyhow. No doubt that will change, but not much else. If gov wanted more apprentices, it could start by not flogging a dead horse with taxpayer's money.

        When I did TAFE, it was nowhere near Uni, but it was acceptably taught, and practical for work. Skills that come in useful throughout life.

        And if the private companies help the gubmint sell places to private companies that will then go signup candidates and make the private program more popular, it will only be a short amount of time before (at least some of) the providers and the companies involved rort Gubmint+Apprentice with each end of the same financial tool.

        Things like this are sorely needed though; not only are there a lot of young people needing a job and employers looking for employees, but 7/11 need to replace a lot of students and temporary visitors working their shops, maybe they'll all become apprentice shelf-packers, service station attendants, baristas, hairdressers, telephone sanitisers or some other category can be used?

        Unfortunately however, employers are not after apprentices, they want skilled staff, like the ones who leave the workforce as they couldn't get a payrise, or can't risk working for a litigious risk-averse employer without their own open-ended PI insurance, or the temporary ones who will work for half the amount it costs the locals to live near their work, whilst paying more of their working wage to the top-end of town than ever before.

  • jsediv on 18/06/2018 - 14:22
    +21

    Thanks OP. Got 12

  • pegaxs on 18/06/2018 - 14:36

    Hmmm… what trade to do next… plumbers get paid plenty, downside is they have their hands in other people poo. Electrician, get paid ok, but death by electrical work kinda scares me. Brick layer, not bad, but a lobotomy to remove half my brain doesn’t sound appealing. Carpenter sounds interesting, but I like my fingers connected to my hands…

    • WatchNerd on 18/06/2018 - 14:40
      +1

      You better stay at home on and go on welfare, it's much safer.

    • follow on 18/06/2018 - 14:42

      If you put on gloves, you won't touch it

    • Han Solo on 18/06/2018 - 14:55

      You're in more danger driving to jobs than doing the electrical work, I wouldn't let it scare you, yes accidents can happen but that goes for anything.

      • pegaxs on 18/06/2018 - 18:36

        You're in more danger driving to jobs

        I know!, I've seen the threads over in the Automotive forum…

    • 2024 on 18/06/2018 - 14:55

      If death by electrical scares you, it's probably good you don't want to go into that occupation.
      Its only bad electricians that run the risk of electrocution, in which case I'd fear for anyone's house you'd work on.
      As for plumbing, I have a mate who is one and it's true what you say. They definitely get paid dirt money. Even to the point they have to be up to date with all their shots, else run the risk of hep a, b, c whatever is catchable via bodily fuilds.
      I would never consider bricklaying. I use my back too often to throw it away on a trade.

      • [Deactivated] on 18/06/2018 - 15:01
        +3

        Its only bad electricians that run the risk of electrocution, i

        Or tidying other bad work, or working incompetent colleagues/apprentices, or being an apprentice and your boss thinking it's funny to flick the power on for a few secs whilst you're wiring up something.

        lesson - work alone and don't check anyone's work unless you've cut the power & padlocked the fusebox shut :-)

        • 2024 on 18/06/2018 - 21:30

          Exactly, never work live.

    • [Deactivated] on 18/06/2018 - 14:57
      +1

      Roofing plumber. the worst you'll see is bird poo.

      Data cabler, you don't need to ee sparks.

      Ikea Carpenter - the worst you'll get is paper cuts

      Chick Layer - just wear protection.

      • WatchNerd on 18/06/2018 - 15:03
        +5

        Where do I sign up for for the Chick Layer?

  • CyberMurning on 18/06/2018 - 14:59
    -1

    sounds good but they need to do it right.
    last time i attended one of the free TAFE excel course, which supposed to be intermediate to advance, but half of the class cant even speak proper english and dont know how to do cut and paste, or simple formatting.

    no offence but please understand dont try to learn english and advance excel at the same place and time.

    • twocsies on 18/06/2018 - 16:43
      +3

      Why do you care so much about your classmates? Better they should be improving their English and employability, for the benefit of the Australian economy. Just ignore them and advance yourself. You're the top of the class!

      • pegaxs on 18/06/2018 - 18:42
        +1

        From my experience at TAFE, most of those "free Excel" types of classes are filled with Visa dodgers.

        The one from this post are "trade" based courses with qualifications at the end of them. You will most likely have to be an indentured apprentice to do some of these courses. I did locksmith not long ago and had to be registered as an apprentice. We don't have a locksmith at work to guide me, but the only reason they still let me do the course was some RPL and because of this skills shortage.

  • LaTerrible on 18/06/2018 - 15:23

    Time to start basket weaving. You beauty.

  • hippyhippy on 18/06/2018 - 15:36

    So can anyone just apply and get to do courses for free?

    • MessyG on 18/06/2018 - 17:32

      I think you can't already have a qualification but otherwise yes it's free. If this doesn't get people off the dole I don't know what will.

      • garage sale on 18/06/2018 - 17:52

        Hospitality …. think sommelier course would be good especially the prac classes …..

        Does Deliveroo and Uber eats delivery count as hospitality industry ?

  • Mr BoMBAStiG on 18/06/2018 - 16:18
    +4

    From the ozbargain posting guidelines…

    Do not post the following:
    Deals that resemble work or a job.
    Government Programs

    Hmmm.

    • scud70 on 18/06/2018 - 16:24

      lol….

    • Moderatorhamza23 on 20/06/2018 - 00:19

      Scroll down to see the full guidelines

      Government programs that are cost saving measures (e.g. free public transport) are permissible to be posted as deals. However income producing programs (e.g. increase to Centrelink payments) should not be posted

      This deal would go into the first category (cost saving measure).

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 18/06/2018 - 17:06

    Excuse my ignorance. Can someone explain exactly what will be free? Do you still need to pay money somewhere or can you now become a plumber completely for free (or even make money in your first year?)?

    • garage sale on 18/06/2018 - 17:49

      you need to be a slave to a licensed plumber for the duration of your apprenticeship, just means you don't need to pay TAFE fees for class time.

      • peterpeterpumpkin on 18/06/2018 - 18:20

        Ah OK. Thanks.

        So the existing monopoly decides who is entitled to train for 4 years and also decides whether an adult can enter the industry? I understand that someone needs to show how things are done, but something seems wrong with this system…I wonder if it's the same system internationally?

        • pegaxs on 18/06/2018 - 18:52

          I did this recently with the locksmith trade course. All I needed to do was contact an apprenticeship company (ie: Sarina Russo Apprenticeships) and they did all the legwork and paperwork. They came to my work and had my boss sign some papers to indenture me as an apprentice.

          We don't have a locksmith on site, but I work for an engineering firm, so plenty of machinists and engineers around. I also got some RPL because I already have two other trades. I entered as a mature age student and have had no issues getting into the course and completing it.

          So, if you work for a company that would help out like mine did, or they are in a semi-related field (ie: don't try and become a plumber if you work for a bank.), then it may be worth it. I know as sure as my arse points to the ground, I will be going back to work and signing up for another course to get a 4th trade done. Or maybe even do two at the same time, electrical and plumbing.

  • Red Pandas on 18/06/2018 - 17:52

    But will employers still discriminate against mature apprentices is the question.
    Its near impossible getting an apprenticeship as a mature apprentice, younger = cheaper and easier to 'control'

    • kev98 on 18/06/2018 - 18:13
      +1

      Hmm my work and similar company’s hire more mature than not. Looking at wrong companys

      • pegaxs on 18/06/2018 - 18:57
        +1

        I was going to say the same thing. Most of the companies I know and work with around my area prefer mature age apprentices. They tend to get better workers at the end of their training if they use mature apprentices, and mature apprentices tend to not cop/put up with as much shit as the younger guys do.

        With the way the skill shortage is going, pretty soon, the only way these trades will get filled is if mature aged apprentices fill the rolls. Young people just want to go out, have fun, get smashed and claim the dole. I cant blame them. Who wants to be working at 7pm on a friday night for $8 and hour? When all their friends are at the pub straight from their 9~5 call centre job…

        • resisting the urge on 02/07/2018 - 17:33

          Mature age apprentices- lol

          How else can we collect enough tax to pay Beeeeelions to the Markets, Banks, and the Politicians, Judges and Lawyers that support them?

          Someone has to take a pay cut.

          And the more that take the cut, the less deep the cut has to be (and the more cuts they will take later on, as you put more and more bowls out to collect all the blood)

          That's why the lawyers ensure the companies they work for that all applicants require university degrees and more and more demonstrable experience in exactly the role advertised.

          In IT, it is not uncommon to see 2 years experience programming in languages that have barely been in commercial use for a year.

  • tightm8 on 18/06/2018 - 18:11

    Finally a deal that cannot be Broden'd

  • Assclown on 18/06/2018 - 19:33

    Did I hear someone say "Pink Batts"?

  • garage sale on 19/06/2018 - 04:36

    25 years ago tafe was cheap …..you paid student fees for library and student union of about $500 and classes were subsidised by govt. govt owned the buildings and land so low overheads to provide the services.

    tafes that did the same certificates had the same sylabus and exams.

    the private system stuffed it up by signing people up to expensive courses with dubious qualifications and many online so they could minimise the number of teachers needed and physical classrooms …..they know people would fail or drop out but it was just to tap into the gov student loans.

    it’s great to see the government resurrect the tafe sector , for profits and education are a conflict of interest between what is good for shareholders and what is good for students.

    even private high schools are not for,profit and they don’t have shareholders to pay dividends to …. fees are used to pay teachers and improve facilities.

    • mikezillakind on 20/06/2018 - 20:42

      just keep in Mind this is at a state level not a federal one !

  • ca6leguy on 19/06/2018 - 16:31

    Bring on all the dodgy tradies.

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