The Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA) believes that this year’s federal budget needs to make a meaningful commitment to fund apprentice and trainee recruitment, retention and support initiatives.

ITECA is the peak body representing independent providers in the skills training, higher education and international education sectors. According to the ITECA State Of The Sector Report, over the past four years, the number of apprentices and trainees with independent RTOs has grown by more than 60,000.

The report shows that there were 182,220 apprentices and trainees with independent providers, that’s 52.2% of all apprentices and trainees in the skills system

ITECA chief executive Troy Williams says that a decade ago, the then government slashed apprentice and trainee incentives directed to both commencement and completion in critical skill areas for the economy.

“This saw recruitment levels crash by around 59% by 2019 on 2012 levels, despite efforts of some states and territories. This decline was only arrested with the introduction of Covid-era employment subsidies.”

With apprenticeship and traineeship numbers growing in recent years, ITECA is calling for the Australian Government to commit to long-term incentives to ensure that employers are able to keep apprentices and trainees on throughout the course of their training.

“The duration of an apprenticeship is often four years from commencement to completion.  Government incentives that last for a year or two do not provide potential apprentices, trainees, employers or training organisations with the confidence to engage meaningfully and long-term in the ways needed,” Troy explains.

Consistent with ITECA’s established reputation for member-driven policy leadership, the independent skills training sector has provided recommendations to the Australian Government as part of the consultations to support the development of this year’s federal budget.

“ITECA members have advised the Australian Government that a subsidy of 30% be provided in the first year of apprenticeships and traineeships, without limitation by any list.  Further, ITECA members have also advised that the completion incentives be reinstated at a minimum of $5,000 to the apprentice or trainee on the completion of their training,” he says.