Qualified apprentices of all ages in WA will have access to improved civil construction training and career pathways due to a wage gap subsidy, equipment rebates, and support in disaster-affected areas.
The Western Australia Government has launched a $14.3 million Construction Training Fund (CTF) to support the sector over the next four years. WA Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery said the funding is in response to workforce issues raised by industry leaders.
“The civil construction apprenticeship program will improve the quality of training in civil construction and create robust career pathways into the industry, with the $5.1 million wage gap subsidy to ensure a pipeline of junior and mature-age qualified apprentices,” she said
The CTF includes $4.5 million for a trade-related tools and safety equipment for apprentices and trainees. For the 2022/23 financial year, $500 can be claimed. In support of a new apprenticeship pathway for the civil construction sector, the CTF will also provide a wage gap subsidy to employers to cover the difference in wages paid between the new apprenticeship and outgoing traineeship.
As driver’s licences have been identified as a barrier to apprenticeships, the CTF also offers an initiative for young people to obtain a licence to gain entry into the construction sector. A further incentive for apprentices and employers is the ability to claim up to $2000 and $6000, respectively, to rebuild disaster-affected regions.
The CTF will also aim to identify and promote training in areas with a declining workforce. For further information visit https://ctf.wa.gov.au/
About the author
Desi Corbett
Desi is the Editor of Concrete in Australia and at the helm of our magazine for 8 years. She was behind the Institute's weekly news bulletins from 2016-2021 and is now writing our focused news items. Desi has been an engineering news and features journalist/editor across all disciplines since 2013 - part of a 30-year career writing for a wide range of industries.