An additional 140 automotive apprenticeships will be created through a partnership between the Marshall Liberal Government and the Motor Trade Association (MTA) of South Australia.
Minister for Innovation and Skills, David Pisoni said the Automotive Apprenticeship Pathways Project will support young South Australians to gain the skills to be job-ready and prepare them to begin apprenticeships with host employers.
"The Marshall Liberal Government is providing more than $790,000 under Skilling South Australia for the pre-apprenticeship training project, with a commitment to achieve 140 apprenticeships," he said.
"There are further opportunities available for people to gain skilled careers in the automotive sector, with the MTA estimating that more than 1,500 automotive employment positions in South Australia cannot currently be filled due to a lack of suitably qualified labour.
"This project will help address the industry's workforce needs and provide participants with financial support for tools and equipment, industry-specific mentoring and providing a direct link to real jobs for apprentices to start working straight away and become qualified at the same time."
Minister Pisoni said this Skilling South Australia project is among more than 40 government-funded and co-designed industry projects to drive apprenticeship and traineeship growth in the state, creating training opportunities in key growth areas.
"The Marshall Liberal Government has successfully secured a three-year bilateral agreement with the Federal Government for the full delivery of the $203 million Skilling South Australia program," he said.
"The newly-signed agreement follows the initial one-year bilateral agreement which commenced shortly after the Marshall Liberal Government was elected to office last year, underpinning the commitment to create an additional 20,800 apprenticeships and traineeships in South Australia over four years.
"I thank the Federal Minister for Skills and Vocational Education, Senator Michaelia Cash, for sharing our vision and helping provide the support needed to deliver appropriate training to satisfy the future skills-needs of an expanding workforce."
MTA CEO Paul Unerkov said the automotive industry is currently experiencing a significant skills shortage and there are significant opportunities now for automotive apprenticeships.
"It's an exciting time as the automotive industry is undergoing significant change with diagnostic testing, advanced welding techniques and electric vehicles just some of the emerging technologies that automotive apprentices are working with," he said.
"It's a future filled with opportunity and our partnership is an example of what can be gained when government and industry work together to achieve a positive outcome for job seekers, businesses and the community."
Click here for information about Skilling South Australia projects.
For more information about automotive apprenticeships visit www.mtaofsa.com.au/apprenticeships
