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22 August 2018 Posted by 

ENQUIRIES STRONG FOR APPRENTICESHIPS

THE recent State Budget announced that the qualification fees for 100,000 new apprentices would be funded by the government over six years from July 1 this year in a mammoth $285M spend.

But just what does that mean for the Central Coast?
 
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Scot MacDonald popped into Gosford TAFE recently to find out.
 
“Staff said enquiries were already strong but are expecting most of the boost (in enrolments) will come in early 2019,” Mr MacDonald said.
 
With a 15% increase in enrolments already recorded this year over last year, it will be interesting to see just how the new initiative impacts student numbers next year.
 
He said the fee-free apprenticeships would reduce the financial burden on students at the outset of their vocational careers, making it “as attractive as possible for the next generation to take up a trade”.
 
“We’re (also) investing more than $87 billion in infrastructure over the next four years, with 20% of trade roles set aside for apprentices,” he said.
 
“By reducing the financial barriers to students seeking a vocational trade, we hope to provide secondary school students with greater career choice.”
 
Access to fee-free training is available to NSW apprentices, including school-based apprentices whose training is funded under the Smart & Skilled program.

 



editor

Publisher
Michael Walls
michael@accessnews.com.au
0407 783 413

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