Hundreds of experienced construction workers will get access to free, fast-tracked and nationally recognised qualifications after the Carroll Labor Government signed onto the Albanese Labor Government's Advanced Entry Trades Training (AETT) program.
The Albanese Government will provide $18.8 million to Victoria to deliver 1,452 places in the program, helping experienced trade workers turn their existing skills into formal qualifications.
The $78 million Commonwealth program will support 6,000 experienced workers nationally by recognising their skills and experience and providing any necessary gap training to complete a qualification faster, backing them to step up into higher-skilled jobs and benefit from greater career mobility.
Qualifications will be at Certificate III level or higher and linked to residential housing and civil construction occupations, including carpentry, rigging, crane operations, tiling, surveying, construction design and site management.
Selected TAFEs will deliver training and assessment at no cost to eligible participants.
The program will help employers strengthen their existing workforce and increase productivity, while building the skilled workforce needed to deliver more homes and infrastructure across Victoria.
The program complements the Albanese Government's investments in the construction workforce through Free TAFE, the Key Apprenticeship Program and the Building Women's Careers program.
Victoria's $16 billion record investment in TAFE is delivering real outcomes for students and employers, with Jobs and Skills Australia confirming that 91 per cent of Victorian TAFE learners achieving their employment goal.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles:
"Australia needs more qualified tradies. Some of those skilled workers we need are already working on construction sites today - but they need backing to step up."
"For experienced workers, this is about turning years of practical experience into a qualification that can open the door to better jobs, higher pay and greater opportunities."
"Research shows every newly qualified tradesperson can support the construction of an additional 2.4 homes each year, which is precisely what we need as we build the homes that Australians need."
Quotes attributable to Victorian Minister for Skills and Training, Gabrielle Williams:
"Victoria needs more skilled workers to build the homes and infrastructure our growing state needs - and this program gives experienced tradies a faster pathway to formal qualifications."
"We're backing experienced workers to turn the skills they already have into nationally recognised qualifications, opening up new opportunities while strengthening the workforce Victoria needs to keep building."
