FOLLOWING the latest announcements regarding investment into the current and future Australian workforce, the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) has welcomed the Morrison Government’s $2 billion 'JobTrainer’ plan to help school-leavers and the unemployed learn new skills.

AIIA CEO, Ron Gauci said, "The AIIA supports micro-credentialing courses and we encourage school leavers and young people to attain skills in IT and have a long and successful career in an industry where jobs are in demand - particularly key technical areas such as artificial intelligence & data, cloud computing, cyber security, automation and internet of things."

He said the AIIA also recognised the importance of gender imbalance that currently exists in STEM. As detailed in a recent set of recommendations put to Australian Government as part of the AIIA White Paper titled Building Australia’s Digital Future in a Post-COVID World, he said, the issue starts in primary learning and continues through to university where almost 80 percent of males complete a STEM qualification compared with 20 percent of women.

"The AIIA are supportive in encouraging opportunities for young women and look forward to having discussions with the National Skills Commission on this matter," Mr Gauci said.

The AIIA White Paper also made the following additional recommendations to government regarding skills shortages. AIIA is asking the government and National Skills Commission to consider:

• Updating the current JobKeeper payment scheme with a portion of the current funding allocated to training credits for employers to reskill their workforce.
• Implementing a nationally recognised lifelong learning framework with skills passport to capture digital skills across VET, University and micro-credential certifications.
• Issuing government credit to employees to promote lifelong learning and up-skilling.

Jointly funded by all levels of government, $1billion,will go towards 430,000 new training courses that meet the needs identified by the National Skills Commission. This will be led in consultation with the states and territories.

The AIIA said the ICT industry needs to be a part of these crucial conversations.

“The AIIA supports the Prime Minister’s JobTrainer announcement and are encouraged to lead an increased profile of the available IT training packages - in turn, reducing barriers of entry for potential workers into the digital economy," Mr Gauci said.

“The funding is a step in the right direction for a post-COVID recovery Australia, however we need more focus on agile training packages that are able to react faster to the emerging opportunities and new skills required for the technology industry. It is clear that the system of training to address skills needed by employers is fractured; both the policy environment and the qualification levers are siloed and inconsistent.

“We encourage an open dialogue with the National Skills Commission and ask that they work with the IT and tech industry in an effort to deliver the skills required to drive jobs in this field - effectively championing and becoming a global leader in digital sovereignty.”

ends

THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell has welcomed the Federal Government’s $2 billion JobTrainer skills package, saying it will deliver the skilled workers that SMEs need.

The JobTrainer package will support SMEs employing apprentices and trainees with a 50 percent wage subsidy, up to $7,000 per quarter.

Ms Carnell said the original package had been expanded for an additional six months to end in March 2021 and is now available to businesses with less than 200 employees for apprentices employed from July 1, 2020.

“This is an excellent initiative that shows the government is responding to the needs of SMEs,” Ms Carnell said.

“This program expansion will mean up to 90,000 SMEs will be supported in keeping their apprentices and trainees in work.”

JobTrainer will also provide 340,700 training places to help people access short and long courses to develop skills in growth sectors.

“Importantly, this program is offering free or low-cost training to people in fields of study where jobs are available,” Ms Carnell said.

“It also provides SMEs with the skilled workers they need right now.

“As our COVID-19 Recovery Plan points out, small businesses consistently report that availability of suitable labour remains a major challenge. This problem has been even more pronounced in regional and remote areas.

“JobTrainer addresses these issues as well as the fact that the jobs and skills SMEs will need coming out of this crisis will likely be different to those that have already been lost," Ms Carnell said.

“The package will provide school leavers with a pathway to practical qualifications and older people out of work with the opportunity to retrain at very little or no cost. 

“The measures announced today will be a significant contribution to our national economic recovery.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

ends

THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell said a new report released today by NAB provides comprehensive analysis on key SME pain points and reforms to support SMEs impacted by the COVID crisis.

Ms Carnell said the Supporting Economic Recovery – What We Can Do For Small Business report commissioned by NAB, reveals the extent to which small business’ efforts to grow their business are hampered by unnecessary burdens.

“This report confirms the enormous pressures small businesses are under and the need for reforms to help these SMEs – many of which were viable and strong just a few months ago – get back on their feet and thrive again,” Ms Carnell said.

“Many of the reforms recommended in this report are simple and will make it easier to do business - which of course has broader economic benefits.

“The report shines a light on the difficulties small businesses face when hiring new workers, with owners spending up to 18 hours on compliance before hiring their first employee. That’s about five times more than a large business with more than 200 employees.

“It takes time to understand awards, pay rates and other obligations. This is where regtech could be a game-changer for small businesses trying to navigate our complex regulatory system," Ms Carnell said.

“Put simply, small businesses will be more likely to hire new staff if it’s easier to do.”

The report also finds red tape costs small businesses $9.3 billion per year, with seven out of 10 reporting government red tape was a burden that detracted from their business.

“My office has made a number of recommendations in regards to ways government could be cutting red tape,” Ms Carnell said.

“This report backs many of our recommendations, particularly in relation to tax compliance, where the cost for small businesses ($90 per $1,000 turnover) is 225 times higher than the cost for big business ($0.40).

“Overall, I believe this report and its eight-point package of reforms is worthy of government implementation.” 

www.asbfeo.gov.au

ends

THE $2 billion JobTrainer package announced by the Federal Government is a great move that will keep young women and men in the building and construction industry working, according to Master Builders Australia.

Master Builders said JobTrainer would also provide hope and opportunity for those whose jobs have been lost in the economic devastation wrought by COVID-19.

Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia said, “The building and construction industry trains more apprentices and provides more full-time jobs than any other sector in the economy. We look forward to being involved in the implementation of this $2 billion package.

“With the support of measures like JobTrainer, HomeBuilder and hopefully more stimulus measures and policy reforms in the future our industry will play a vital in rebuilding Australia,” Ms Wawn said.

www.masterbuilders.com.au

ends