Toowoomba apprentices, trainers welcome extension to Federal Government's $1.2b subsidy scheme

A top Toowoomba training organisation has welcomed the extension of a Federal Government subsidy scheme for apprentices and trainees.

Downs Group Training (DGT) talk about new federal funding program to get more apprentices into work. Gemma Templeman

Gemma Templeman, Chris Dagan and Corey Stewart all reached the end of 2020 either unemployed or laid off from seasonal or contracting work.

Now the trio are hoping to start their careers in a trade this year, thanks to the extension of an important federal grant to boost apprenticeship and trainee numbers.

Downs Group Training, the organisation preparing them for the industry, has welcomed the renewal of the $1.2b Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements, which subsidises the wages of a new apprentice for a business.

DGT CEO Kris McCue said it took on a number of new potential apprentices as part of the first round from October, and he hoped to see the majority of them join businesses in Toowoomba.

“DGT employs apprentices and trainees and hosts them out to businesses, and we also train apprentices and people generally,” he said.

“The extension to the BAC program is a really welcome move from the government.

“One of the things that happens is apprentices and trainees are the first to feel the brunt of it, because the employer wants to save costs.

“Maintaining that wage subsidy is critically important, particularly for the construction sector.

“I think it will create a boost to apprentice numbers, we’ve already seen a big increase in numbers, and we see that continuing because it’s promoting confidence in the sector.”

Mr McCue said with 90 per cent of new apprentices aged 16-25, the continuation of the scheme would help reduce the region’s youth unemployment rate.

“This goes a big way to boosting not just apprentice numbers in the immediate term, but skilled workers in the medium and the long term, which will boost the economy,” he said.

“We’ve seen huge youth unemployment levels over the past 12 months, so this is an opportunity for businesses to have the confidence to take on young people.”

Downs Group Training (DGT) talk about new federal funding program to get more apprentices into work. From left; Chris Dagan, Gemma Templeman, Kris McCue, CEO and Corey Stewart.

Along with creating 70,000 new apprenticeship positions, the 100,000 already included in the program will have the subsidy extended for a full 12 months.

The three students are currently completing a pre-apprenticeship program, which was funded through the State Government’s Skilling for Queenslanders program.

Ms Templeman, who hopes to become a painting apprentice, said being given a chance to join a trade had changed her whole outlook.

“I started at the beginning of January. Before that, I was working at Withcott Seedlings, and I saw this job on Seek and I applied for it, had an interview and got the job,” she said.

“I’m more of a hands-on worker, so I like this sort of work.”