New tradies training war
Labor backs on- job learning
THE Tasmanian government must oppose plans Labor says will scrap the requirement for trade apprentices to have on- the- job experience.
Labor’s TAFE, University and Skills spokeswoman Michelle O’Byrne said the Australian Industry Skills Committee had recommend the move to the Council of Australian Governments next month.
She called on Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff to oppose the plan to water down apprentice training.
“We know since this government has come to power there’s been a 30 per cent reduction in student numbers at TAFE, we know that there are a number of apprentices who are not getting the training that we’re talking about because TAFE doesn’t have the skilled or qualified staff to do so.
“And we know that there’s been pressure within industry to try and make training less of a component.
“What we don’t want is a system in a few years time, where the person who walks in your door to do to work is the subject of a range of training: either they’ve been fully accredited done the full workplace training with all of the support — or there’s someone who’s done a more theoretical application.”
Manufacturing Workers Union state secretary John Short said Tasmania had long tradition of training highquality tradespeople and the current system should be defended.
“Ninety per cent of employers and 80 per cent of apprentices agree that there should be some mandated skills training on the job,” he said.
“When you’re doing an apprenticeship, you do the TAFE training probably once a week and then what you do after that is to put that into practice in the workplace with a skilled tradesperson showing you the way. What the AISC are saying is absolutely ridiculous.”
Education and Training Minister Jeremy Rockliff said Labor was trying to whip up fear in a desperate bid for a headline. “There is no plan to remove on- the- job training from apprenticeships and traineeships, as we recognise they are critical elements of an apprenticeship or traineeship,” he said.