National Skills Week puts spotlight on new opportunities

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien is encouraging school leavers and people starting new careers to consider apprenticeships, with record funding available for trainee programs.

“This week is National Skills Week, so it’s a great time to take advantage of the webinars and events across Australia to explore how a traineeship could help kickstart your new career,” Mr O’Brien said.

“I encourage school leavers, job seekers and anyone wanting a new career to consider an apprenticeship or a traineeship, because there is massive demand for skilled workers, and those learning those skills or a trade sets you on a path for a rewarding, well-paid career.”

The Morrison Government is providing record funding for skills and training to help all Australians build a brighter future and reach their full career potential, through the $2 billion JobTrainer fund and our $3.9 billion investment in wage subsidies for apprentices and trainees.

National Skills Week will see events and webinars held across the country aiming to help Australians unlock their potential and gain real skills for real careers.

Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, Stuart Robert, said while this National Skills Week would be held virtually, a skilled career promised significant opportunities out in the real world.

“Whether it is on nation-building projects like the Western Sydney Airport or Inland Rail, in TV programs like ‘The Block’ or ‘MasterChef’, or indeed in the seemingly endless streams on Instagram and TikTok, everywhere you look Australians are making a difference by doing incredible things with world-leading skills developed here in our backyard,” Minister Robert said.

“National Skills Week is a chance for all Australians to consider having a crack at vocational education and training and remind everyone about the amazing opportunities a skilled career can generate for you and your family.

“These opportunities are guaranteed by the Morrison Government which is backing Australians to take up new skills with the highest spend on skills and training in Australia’s history, $6.4 billion just this financial year.

“This includes a two-year extension of the $2 billion JobTrainer fund, offering free or low-fee training to Australians, jointly funded with state and territory governments. To date the JobTrainer fund has supported over 230,000 Australians upskill and break into new career opportunities.”

For more information, visit www.yourcareer.gov.au