The Morrison Government is working with businesses to improve training and create job opportunities for Australians.
The Government is partnering with BHP to create opportunities for up to 1,000 people in regional areas to study a higher education qualification or upgrade their skills to improve their employability.
Through the BHP partnership, Australians will become more job-ready by gaining an Undergraduate Certificate qualification through short courses, or participating in workplace integrated learning through an Advanced Apprenticeship through the Future of Work Partnership.
The Morrison Government is working with education providers and industry to ensure Australians are learning the skills needed to succeed in the jobs that will power the COVID-19 economic recovery.
To help develop the workforce of the future, the Government has:
- Provided $2.8 billion Supporting Apprentices and Trainees wage subsidy that is helping employers to retain their apprentices and trainees.
- Created a $900 million National Priorities and Industry Linkage fund established to enhance engagement between higher education and industry, with a strong focus on STEM industries.
- Provided $7 million to heavily subsidise short courses in areas of national priority.
Minister for Education Dan Tehan said the partnership was part of the Morrison Government's plan to invest in Australian brainpower, education and training to power our economic recovery from COVID-19.
"To improve how universities and industry work together to educate job-ready graduates, our Government is establishing a $900 million Industry Linkage Fund to incentivise university engagement with industry and focus on creating more STEM-skilled and job-ready graduates in areas of industry and community priority," Mr Tehan said.
"In this year's Budget, our Government provided $22.1 million for universities and employers to provide advanced qualifications and industry cadetships for women in science, technology, engineering and maths.
"We are also increasing the number of university places and short course places to support increased demand from school leavers and provide more options for upskilling and reskilling workers who have lost jobs due to COVID-19."
The Morrison Government has already invested significantly to ensure that apprentices are retained where possible and supported to re-engage if they lose their job as part of the JobTrainer package.
Through the existing Supporting Apprentices and Trainees measure, as many as 90,000 businesses employing around 180,000 apprentices throughout Australia will continue to be supported.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash said the BHP partnership would strengthen Australia's vocational education and training system.
"I welcome BHP's commitment to training 2,500 new apprentices and additional $450 million to boost Australia's mining, equipment, technology and services sector," Minister Cash said.
"Now more than ever, apprentices are critical to meeting the skills needs of Australian employers. That's why the Morrison Government continues to back apprentices and trainees with $2.8 billion of support through our Supporting Apprentices and Trainees wage subsidy.
"Never before has it been so important for businesses who can, to continue to invest in their future by taking on more apprentices."
As Australia's biggest export earner, the company has an important role to play in the country's economic recovery, BHP President Minerals Australia Edgar Basto said.
"This investment will help to create a pipeline of future talent in skilled roles in regional communities across Australia," Mr Basto said.
"Providing training opportunities for Australians of all ages and all walks of life is an important contribution we can make to help Australia bounce back."
