Federal government ad blitz to help 200,000 into post-Covid jobs

Aussies are being urged to take advantage of the $2b JobTrainer Fund, which enables people to upskill in areas of critical need in the workforce like care and digital sectors — no matter their age.

School leavers and people who lost their jobs during the pandemic will be a key focus of a national advertising campaign aimed at filling almost 200,000 training places in the federal government JobTrainer program.

The Morrison government will on Sunday launch a national push to get more Australians to take advantage of its $2 billion JobTrainer Fund, which enables participants to upskill in areas of critical need in the Australian workforce.

The latest uptake figures show there have been more than 270,000 enrolments in the program with the advertising television and online advertising blitz aiming to bolster the figure to 463,000 places in the expanded program.

The campaign will also send the message that age should not be a barrier to upskilling via a low-fee or fee-free courses in areas of high demand, particularly in Australia’s booming care and digital sectors.

The federal government has reached agreements with NSW, Western Australia, South Australia and the ACT to match the Federal $500 million expansion of JobTrainer.

Queensland is also expected to sign on to the expanded fund shortly.

Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business Minister Stuart Robert. Picture: Evan Morgan

Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business Minister Stuart Robert said the

national push would help reach Australians considering a career change as well as school leavers looking for something flexible with strong job prospects.

“If you want to change jobs, or get into a job, JobTrainer is a one-way ticket to skills that will land you one, it is a great deal for Australians and a win-win for our economy,” he said.

“The latest job vacancy figures show there are hundreds of thousands of jobs across a range of exciting industries available right now and there’s money on the table for you to get skills to work in them.

“I encourage all Australians to consider having a crack at a JobTrainer course – join the skilled workforce today.”

Any job seeker or young Australian can enrol through JobTrainer for either a full qualification or short course.

The list of available courses was agreed between the National Skills Commission and each

state and territory government based on areas of identified skills need and employment growth.

The Morrison government initially committed $500 million in 2020-21 to establish the JobTrainer Fund, which is being matched by states and territories.

In the 2021-22 federal budget, the government committed an additional $500 million to

extend and expand the scheme until December next year.

The largest number of enrolments have occurred in NSW with 134,641, followed by

Queensland (59,539), Victoria (39,611), South Australia (13,987), Western Australia (12,635),

Tasmania (7,495), ACT (2,107)) and the NT (1,023).

The most popular courses nationally have been the Certificate III in Individual Support,

Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, Diploma of Nursing, Certificate III in Community Services.

Originally published as Federal government ad blitz to help 200,000 into post-Covid jobs