Apprenticeships and traineeships

Pilot Youth Connectors Program in Sorell, Glenorchy and George Town

The Pilot Youth Connectors Program in Sorell, Glenorchy and George Town is allocated $671 000 per year for two years. The pilot will operate in conjunction with the Sorell, Glenorchy and George Town Jobs Hubs, focusing on young Tasmanians in those areas seeking jobs, training and apprenticeships in their local regions (Government services: budget paper no. 2: Volume 1, p. 336).

Targeted Small Business Grants Program for Apprentices and Trainees

The Targeted Small Business Grants Program for Apprentices and Trainees initiative, introduced as part of the COVID-19 Response and Recovery, continues in 2021-22 with $293 000 funding allocated. Funding of $5.4 million is also provided for an expansion of the Apprentices and Trainees Small Business Grant (Government services: Budget paper no. 2: Volume 1, p. 364).

Sorell Trade Training Centre

$1.5 million is allocated to support the expansion of the Sorell Trade Training Centre in partnership with the Australian Government. The initiative is an election commitment initiative, and the upgrade will allow for more young Tasmanians to access training and apprenticeships (Government services: Budget paper no. 2: Volume 1, pp. 329 and 337).

Payroll Tax Rebate (Trainees, Apprentices and Youth)

Payroll Tax Assistance is estimated at $7.32 million for 2021-22, and includes the Payroll Tax Rebate (Trainees, Apprentices and Youth). The Payroll Tax Rebate Scheme provides payroll tax relief to businesses operating in Tasmania that employ apprentices, trainees and youth employees. From 1 January 2021, the scheme was extended and widened to give effect to a recommendation by the Premier's Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council (PESRAC). The Scheme now applies to all new apprentices and trainees, regardless of industry, employed until 30 June 2022. The payroll tax rebate is provided for two years from the date that apprentices and trainees are employed, and one year from the date that youth employees are employed (Government services: Budget paper no. 2: Volume 1, pp. 132 and 134).

Employment

Working Tasmania Program

The 2021-22 budget fully funds the $20.5 million Working Tasmania Program ($10.25 million each year for two years). This initiative will complement the 'Local People into Local Jobs' agenda. It provides support to Tasmanian employers and jobseekers, funding to support training interventions to address barriers to employment, financial supports for employers to employ new employees, and specifically to assist young people and recent school leavers. The package includes:

The $13.8 million plan for 'Delivering Local Jobs for Local People', which consolidates the government's long-term plan to support more than 2000 Tasmanians into jobs through Jobs Hubs in regional areas across the State, includes:

• $6.5 million over two years for the new Tasmanian Employer Bonus Fund, which provides up to $6,500 to help eligible employers take on long-term job seekers.
• $3.2 million to expand the Area Connect Service to give more Tasmanians in regional areas access to low cost or free transport to get to work, training or education.
• $2 million for the Job Ready Fund which assists eligible job seekers to meet the costs of essential licences, working with vulnerable people checks, or equipment necessary for a new job.
• $2.4 million to expand the Job Matching Service to place more jobseekers in local vacancies and support employers to get the staff they need.
• $1 million investment to extend TasTAFE's Skill Up initiative which is providing fee-free training for those hardest hit by COVID-19 in key areas such as health, ICT and business, and tourism and hospitality.
• $850 000 for the Youth Navigators project to support year 12 leavers, impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, to get the extra triage services they need to navigate further education, training or employment opportunities.
• $400 000 to establish a Workers Connect Portal, providing Tasmanian business and jobseekers with authoritative information about local jobs, programs and the support services available.
• $200 000 to deliver Regional Jobs Shows and events to showcase local employment and industry opportunities in partnership with regional jobs hubs and community groups. (Government services: Budget paper no. 2: Volume 1, pp. 329-341; Media release: Delivering skills and training to secure Tasmania's future).

Delivering Local Jobs for Local People

The $13.8 million plan for 'Delivering Local Jobs for Local People', which consolidates the government's long-term plan to support more than 2 000 Tasmanians into jobs through Jobs Hubs in regional areas across the State, includes:

• $10.625 million over three years to create new local Jobs Hubs in Burnie, Brighton, Huonville and St Helens and to expand coverage of the Northern Employment and Business Hub, taking the total to seven Jobs Hubs providing state-wide coverage.
• $1.342 million over three years for the Youth Connectors pilot program to operate in conjunction with existing Hubs in Sorell, Glenorchy and George Town to specifically support young people seeking jobs and training in their local area.
• $1.5 million over three years for a Jobs Partnership Fund to support engagement between the Hub network and the non-government sector.
• $190 000 over two years to support migrant and multicultural employment programs delivered through the Migrant Resource Centres in the north and south.
• $170 000 in 2021-22 to support the Fit for Work Devonport Project (Government services: Budget paper no. 2: Volume 1, pp. 327-328 and 334-335; Media release: Delivering skills and training to secure Tasmania's future).

Industry

High Vis Army

The High Vis Army initiatives are allocated $9 million over four years and will support the Civil Contractors Federation ($4 million), Housing Industry Association ($1 million) and Master Builders Tasmania ($4 million) as part of a coordinated effort in workforce development and training to attract more workers to the industry (Government services: Budget paper no. 2: Volume 1, pp. 328 and 334).

Hospitality 2030 - Building Skills and Workforce Development

The Hospitality 2030 - Building Skills and Workforce Development initiative will support the development of a long-term plan, in partnership with the Tasmanian Hospitality Association, and continue to support workforce development across the sector. The initiative is allocated $2.25 million ($750 000 each year for three years) beginning in the 2022-23 financial year (Government services: Budget paper no. 2: Volume 1, pp. 328 and 334).

Forestry Sector Diversity Action Plan

The Forestry Sector Diversity Action Plan initiative will establish a Diversity Action Plan led by the Tasmanian Forest and Forest Products Network to increase the gender and cultural diversity of the forestry sector. $150 000 over three years ($50 000 each year) is provided for the initiative. $150 000 is also provided in 2021-22 to establish a Diversity Action plan in partnership with the Tasmanian Manufacturing, Mineral and Energy Council (Government services: Budget paper no. 2: Volume 1, pp. 328-329 and 333).

Skills and Training - Arbre Forest Industries

The Skills and Training - Arbre Forest Industries initiative is allocated $25 000 each year for three years and will address skill shortages in the forest industry by collaborating with Arbre Forest Industries to train industry leaders of tomorrow (Government services: Budget paper no. 2: Volume 1, pp. 329 and 337).

Community Services initiatives

Four Community Services initiatives have been allocated funding: the Community Services-based Project Team ($195 000 each year for three years) which will establish a project team in the Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS) to drive research and data collection and reduce barriers to employment in the sector; a Workforce Ready Team ($500 000 each year for three years) to work across sectors to coordinate better integration of education and training with community sector needs; a Workforce Development Fund ($310 000 each year for three years) to deliver a coordinated increase to the sector's training capacity; and a Community Services Sector Recruitment Campaign ($100 000 in 2021-22) (Government services: Budget paper no. 2: Volume 1, pp. 327 and 332).

Industry Training Initiative

$500 000 each year for four years has been provided for the Industry Training Initiative to enable the delivery of improved training for jockeys and other racing industry career opportunities (Government services: Budget paper no. 2: Volume 1, pp. 328 and 278).

National Agreements

In 2021-22, the Australian Government will provide estimated funding of $49.9 million to support the state's skills and workforce development services through the National Skills and Workforce Development Specific Purpose Payment (SPP) and National Partnership and Project payments.

National Skills and Workforce Development Specific Purpose Payment

Funding from the Commonwealth Government under the National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development is estimated at $33.1 million in 2021-22 (The budget: Budget paper no. 1, p. 76).

National Partnership Payments

The total estimated National Partnership Payments for 2021-22 is $16.8 million, comprising:

• National Partnership for Skilling Australians Fund - $5 million
• Energising Tasmania - $2.7 million
• Job Ready Generation Package - North-West Tasmania - $1.3 million
• Revitalising TAFE Campuses across Australia - $5 million
• JobTrainer Fund - $1 million
• Other - $1.8 million (The budget: Budget paper no. 1, pp. 77-78).

'Other' includes funding for Infection Control Training. The budget also includes $7.4 million in 2022-23 and $2.1 million in 2023-24 for the JobTrainer Fund (The budget: Budget paper no. 1, p. 80).

Training providers and programs

TasTAFE Authority outline

TasTAFE is a Statutory Authority established by the Training and Workforce Development Act 2013, and is the single public sector entity responsible for post compulsory vocational education and training (VET) in Tasmania. The Government will introduce legislation in the 2021 Spring Session of Parliament to establish TasTAFE as a new not for profit government business (Government services: Budget paper no. 2: Volume 2, p. 119).

TasTAFE four year plan

The 2021-22 budget fully funds the $98.6 million four year plan for TasTAFE which includes:

• $37.6 million over four years ($3.8 million in 2021-22) to deliver 100 extra TasTAFE teachers.
• $10 million over two years ($2 million in 2021-22) for the Regional TAFE Virtual campus, a hybrid learning model that provides a blend of remotely facilitated training, practical, on-campus experiences and 24-hour access to digital content and learning activities.
• $2 million ($500 000 each year for four years) to expand the Skill Up! Program, which provides fee free short courses to assist Tasmanians to boost their job ready skills, and to prepare students to undertake further study in pre-vocational or apprenticeship level courses.
• $4 million ($2 million each year for two years) to increase access to TAFE courses for rural and remote students. The TasTAFE and Libraries Tasmania initiative will identify suitable Libraries Tasmania sites across the State to house a virtual TasTAFE campus presence, to allow students to access online learning, and also participate in TasTAFE classroom activities remotely.
• $45 million ($11.25 million each year for four years) for the TasTAFE Facility Upgrades and Transition Fund to deliver a range of improvements to TasTAFE across the State including new student accommodation in Burnie and Clarence, major upgrades to campuses at Alanvale, Burnie and Devonport, and equipment upgrades to ensure students are learning on contemporary equipment. The initiative also includes the creation of a Regional TAFE Facilities Development and Transition Fund to invest in additional upgrades to increase access for regional and rural students, and to support the transition to the new TasTAFE model (Government services: Budget paper no. 2: Volume 2, pp. 120-121).

Skills and Workforce Development funding

Expenses for Output Group 1.3: Skills and Workforce Development are estimated at $132.734 million in 2021-22. Additionally, expenses for Output Group 90 - COVID-19 Response and Recovery are estimated at $15.193 million, comprising the Rapid Response Skills Initiative ($3.5 million), Targeted Small Business Grants Program for Apprentices and Trainees ($293 000), Priority Industry Skills Funding - More Teachers at TasTAFE ($1 million), Expansion of the Apprentices and Trainees Small Business Grant ($5.4 million), and Funding of Key VET Courses (JobTrainer) ($5 million) (Government servces: Budget paper no. 2: Volume 1, pp. 345-346).

Bothwell District School and Campbell Town District School - Agriculture in Schools

$4 million over three years is provided to upgrade and expand the agricultural VET programs at Bothwell District School and Campbell Town District Schools (Government services: Budget paper no. 2: Volume 1, pp. 90-91).