Last Friday at the National Press Club, the Prime Minister stated, “our tradies are the lifeblood of our construction sector, and that’s why today we are announcing that apprentices who finish an apprenticeship in the housing sector will receive a $10,000 incentive payment”. What a welcomed policy direction.
Back at the start of 2022, three years ago, I wrote in my opinion piece in the TDA Newsletter, “funding the individual may well contribute to higher apprentice completions”. As we know, apprentices are challenged by low wages, often below the minimum wage. So, it is great to see that low apprentice wages will be supplemented with higher direct payments to the apprentice.
This $10,000 incentive payment is aimed to encourage Australians to train for jobs in residential housing construction. The incentive payment will be paid in five increments of $2,000 being two in the first year, then one at the end of each year of a four-year apprenticeship. This is important, as although not fully front ended, it does recognise that most apprentices leave their apprenticeship in the first year and therefore 40% will have been paid at the end of the first year – a great progress payment and a good reason to stay the distance with another 60% to go.
This Housing Construction Apprenticeship stream will benefit many small and medium business builders. It will be targeted directly at the housing construction industry. This policy direction has been supported by Housing Industry Association Managing Director, Jocelyn Martin, who commented positively on the ABC on Friday and on LinkedIn, especially mentioning the importance of the policy for supporting small business.
Last Friday, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations released Dr Iain Ross and Ms Lisa Paul’s Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System. This apprentice incentive is one response to that report. The report is covered later in this newsletter and contains further recommendations about the apprenticeship system. These are important directions for Australia and its economic priorities.
Apprentices engaged in residential construction will be eligible for a $10,000 incentive payment, as part of the federal government’s initial response to the Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System.
The review, prepared by Dr Iain Ross and Ms Lisa Paul, was released on Friday and contains 34 recommendations to make incentives more effective. It also addresses wider issues such as cost-of-living, safe workplaces, VET qualifications, and best practice for improving completions.
“The current incentive system is not in alignment with Australia’s economic priorities and social equity objectives and is at risk of failing to meet the economy’s critical skills needs,” the review says.
It recommends removing incentives from large employers and calls for the creation of an innovation fund to pilot innovative approaches to apprenticeships. The innovation fund could see training providers, large employers, industry bodies and group training organisations working together to expand and adopt proven solutions.
The review calls for industry peak bodies and Jobs and Skills Councils to “take a stronger role in changing workplace culture in their industries”.
RTOs are urged to do more to assess language, literacy and numeracy of apprentices, or face compliance action.
The review says there should be an independent review of the design, efficacy and performance of Apprentice Connect Australia Providers before then end of the initial two-year contract.
In its initial response, the government will:
There will be a process of consultation on the review findings through most of this year with final decisions late in 2025 and implementation scheduled from December.
In addition to the final report, there are a series of papers and fact sheets.
This session will explore how TAFE SA has transformed its apprenticeship programs through the adoption of a digital training plan and attendance management system.
It will discuss the specific challenges TAFE SA sought to address, the outcomes achieved, and the broader implications for managing apprentices in the field using technology.
The conversation will extend beyond this case study to explore how technology – specially AI – can enhance workplace-based apprenticeship management, focusing on communication, monitoring, and engagement. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies and forward-looking insights for modernising apprenticeship management.
TAFE NSW’s Managing Director, Stephen Brady, is leaving the role after leading the organisation for the past three years.
Mr Brady was appointed to the role in December 2021, and during his tenure has overseen important reforms in vocational education and training sector.
The NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said Mr Brady was instrumental in leading TAFE NSW through the NSW VET Review.
“I thank Mr Brady for his service and contribution to TAFE NSW over the last three years and wish him all the best in his future endeavours,” Mr Whan said.
He said that with TAFE NSW now entering its new phase of implementing the VET Review, including finalising a new Operating Model and TAFE NSW Charter, it was the right time for new leadership to guide TAFE NSW through the next stage.
The process to appoint a new Managing Director will commence soon. Chloe Read, Deputy Secretary, Education and Skills Reform in the NSW Department of Education will act in the role.
TDA extends its sincere thanks to Steve for his contribution to TAFE, in particular, his valuable input as part of the TDA National Board, and wishes him the very best for his next endeavours.
University vice chancellors face a fresh round of scrutiny with the creation of a new parliamentary committee that will examine issues including governance and management failures.
NSW Labor Senator Tony Sheldon who chairs the Senate Education and Employment Committee, will seek to establish the new committee to examine VCs and chancellors, if parliament resumes in February.
“University vice-chancellors have questions to answer about the extraordinary range of governance issues that have arisen on their watch,’’ he is quoted as saying in The Australian.
“There’s no other job in Australia where you can be paid so exorbitantly while performing so badly, with seemingly no consequences or accountability for the impact on university staff and students.
“The inquiry will urgently examine the spate of governance issues and concerns that have plagued universities in recent years.’’
CQUniversity’s childcare training and the Fee-Free TAFE program has helped Tammy Reynolds go back to the classroom and enhance her skills as a primary school teacher.
Tammy, who lives with her family on a farm north of Clermont, was on leave from teaching when she discovered she could still earn and learn as an educator in the childcare sector.
AVETRA is calling for abstracts for its 2025 conference being held in Melbourne, 3-4 April, with pre-conference workshops on 2 April. The theme is ‘Current Challenges / Future Focused: How VET research can balance contemporary challenges with an eye to emerging and future needs’. Information about abstracts can be found here.
ADCET is also calling for abstracts for the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Symposium 2025, ‘Navigating Authentic Assessment and Learning in a Digital World’, taking place 25-26 June at The University of Sydney. Submissions are invited from from academics, teachers, VET educators and practitioners. Details are here.
The Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance (AUSMASA) invites industry representatives, training providers, peak bodies, government agencies, unions, and other stakeholders to participate in their upcoming interactive roundtables.
These sessions will gather feedback on AUSMASA’s 2025 Workforce Plan Consultation Paper (available from Tuesday, 4 February) and the VET Workforce Blueprint project.
TAFETalks: Insights from TAFE SA on revolutionising apprenticeship management
29 January 2025
2.00-3.00pm AEDT
Register here
NCVER Webinar
What’s going on with student outcomes?
25 February 2025
More information
2025 VET AI Symposium
18 March 2025
VET Development Centre Melbourne and online
More information
AVETRA Conference 2025
2-4 April 2025
Melbourne
More information
9th Research Conference of the International Network for Innovative Apprenticeship (INAP)
8-9 May 2025
University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, England
More information
National Apprentice Employment Network 2025 National Conference
11-13 June 2025
Sofitel, Brisbane
More information
WorldSkills Australia National Championships and Skills Showcase
12-14 June 2025
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Symposium 2025
Navigating Authentic Assessment and Learning in a Digital World
University of Sydney
More information
34th National Vocational Education and Training (VET) Research Conference ‘No Frills’
9-11 July 2025 (Abstract submissions due by 7 March 2025)
Gold Coast
More information
VET National Teaching & Learning Conference
14-15 August 2025
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Save the date
Velg Training National VET Conference
30-31 October 2025
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
More information
TDA Convention 2026
SAVE the DATE
5-7 May 2026
Brisbane
2026 WFCP World Congress
23-28 November 2026
Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya
Save the date
© 2020 TAFE Directors Australia – Website Developed by G.I. Computer Innovations
