Charles Darwin University is helping to alleviate the national skills shortage by providing apprentices with the opportunity to achieve their qualifications earlier.
Funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, ‘Fast-Track Apprenticeships’ enables workers to become competent in a shorter time through skills recognition and gap identification.
CDU, in partnership with Swan TAFE, has been granted funding to broker ‘Fast-Track Apprenticeship’ models and activities. Swan TAFE has been identified as a lead organisation which has been operating an effective, nationally recognised fast-track model for at least five years.
In being awarded the funding, CDU will broker broad development, promotion and implementation of this model with industry and registered training organisations at a regional level.
CDU’s NT Manager Trades Industry Division, Brent Villiers said both employers and apprentices stood to benefit immensely from the ‘Fast-Track Apprenticeships’ program.
“Employers will benefit as they will have a more highly skilled workforce, and workers will be able to complete their qualifications when they are competent, rather than when they have served the time deemed necessary to complete the qualification,” he said.
‘Fast-Track Apprenticeships’ is designed for employees who already have skills, knowledge and experiences but no formal qualification.
A launch of the ‘Fast-Track Apprenticeships’ Brokerage Project will be held on Thursday, 3 September from 7.30-9am at the Darwin Airport Resort. Media are welcome.
For more information contact Kathy Robertson on 0429 042 981