SA’s biggest industries need skills to pay the bills – now there’s a plan to rebuild TAFE and train enough workers to meet demand

One in two SA apprentices drop out, new figures reveal, as the state is set to spearhead a new national bid to reverse the trend.

South Australia will spearhead a national strategy to ensure more apprentices complete their training, with one out of two dropping out.

Improving completion rates has become a key priority as demand for skilled labour grows within multiple industries across the country.

The state government has set up a task force to develop a new skills strategy to provide enough workers to meet demands over the next decade.

Recent official figures show SA has the second-lowest completion rate of VET courses in the country, with half of apprentices not finishing their first year.

Skills Minister Blair Boyer attended a national meeting on Friday, where he was tasked with delivering a report by May to the federal government.

Mr Boyer briefed the meeting on how SA was developing a 10-year plan “to provide government direction over what our training system needs to do”.

“It will identify skills shortages now and into the future and provide a direction for government as to where skills funding should go,” he said.

“We urgently need to fix the skills and training system. We can’t keep doing what we’ve always done and expect things to change.

“The national completion rate is just 48.9 per cent which means we are pouring billions of taxpayer dollars into an incredibly inefficient system.”

Motor mechanic apprentice Jed Santos at Jarvis Ford, Trinity Gardens, is one of the young workers benefiting from government grants to support apprenticeships and address the state’s skills shortage. Picture: Tom Huntley

Mr Boyer said many apprentices who did not complete their courses had cited mental health or personal issues as the reason they quit.

“It’s time to focus on what support we can give them to overcome those obstacles and still finish,” he said.

“South Australia is well-placed to lead the work on how we get completion rates up by adopting the same approach we are taking in our primary and secondary schools,” he said.

Among industries urgently needing skilled workers was the state’s multibillion-dollar resources sector, which included companies like BHP, Santos, Heathgate, OZ Minerals and Nystar.

SA Chamber of Commerce and Energy chief executive Rebecca Knol said the organisation had made submissions to a national inquiry into the increasing skills shortage.

“The South Australian resources sector is the backbone of the state’s economy, supporting over 44,000 full-time jobs,” she said.

“Like many other industries, it has faced significant workforce and skills shortages in recent years, with a peak shortfall of 5100 resource sector workers projected later this year.”

Motor Trades Association chief executive Darrell Jacobs said the organisation was using $280,000 in government funding for a new mentoring program to improve completion rates.

Mr Jacobs said one in two motor mechanic apprentices were failing to finish their first year within an industry which employed 30,000 workers.

“Businesses are crying out for employees and South Australia’s automotive industry is not immune to these challenges,” he said.

“We know that apprentices are most at risk of dropping out in the critical first year and once they leave are lost to the industry forever.

“The mentoring program will boost apprentice retention and completion rates in the midst of automotive labour shortages.”

First year motor mechanic Jed Santos, 19, said he was determined to finish his apprenticeship at Jarvis Ford Norwood.

“Any support to help do it would be great,” he said.

Huge demand for free construction courses

Fee free courses at TAFE SA are proving to be a big hit, with qualifications in building and construction experiencing the strongest demand.

Chief executive David Coltman said enrolments for entry-level certificates for building industry apprenticeships had more than doubled.

Applications to study electrotechnology, plumbing, drafting and interior design had also increased.

“TAFE SA has seen strong interest from those wanting to start their career in the building and construction industry, as well as from people wanting to upskill for supervisory roles,” said Mr Coltman.

“This demand has included a significant increase in applications in excess of 150 per cent to study the Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building), the Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Site Management), and the Diploma in Building and Construction (Building).”

Mr Coltman said the fee free Certificate II in Construction Pathways, which was reinstated this year, had seen full classes registered at TAFE SA’S Elizabeth, Tonsley and Noarlunga Campuses.

“The qualification provides a key feeder into apprenticeships for students, with the training offering a taste of different trades and covering a range of foundational skills,” he said.

Over 100 TAFE SA courses were being offered for free using $65m in federal funding as part of a national strategy to address the skills shortage.

Mr Coltman said response had been “incredibly positive”.

“The initiative will help important local sectors like the building and construction industry with skills shortages,” he said.

“The demand from students extends across many of our future industry and trade courses and we’re continuing to see strong demand in our VET in Schools programs in construction as well.

“As we work closely with industry, TAFE SA is providing students across the state with quality education and training that is delivered by expert lecturers ensuring our graduates are skilled and job-ready.”

Mr Coltman said further TAFE SA offers were being made weekly for courses with vacancies.