More training places to address skills shortages

More training places to address skills shortages

 

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, has announced that up to $25 million will be provided to fund Enterprise Based Productivity Places Program (EBPPP) training for existing workers.

The EBPPP builds on the successful National Enterprise Productivity Places Program trials conducted in 2008 and 2009.

In the new round, eligibility will be extended to include national professional associations and industry bodies, enterprises and businesses that operate across a number of states and, importantly, small and medium enterprises as well as national enterprises.

The objectives of the program are to provide opportunities for employees in participating enterprises to increase their skill levels and gain further qualifications. This will assist enterprises to increase productivity and meet the demand for higher skills that is a feature of today’s economy.

Industry Skills Councils (ISCs) will play a crucial role in the implementation of the program. They will work with a broad range of organisations and enterprises to identify the training needs of existing workers. The program will help meet those needs through provision of joint government and enterprise funded training for existing workers. The training will be at the Certificate III to Advanced Diploma level in a range of qualifications included in the Priority Occupations List.

National professional associations and industry bodies can access the EBPPP in the same manner as all other enterprises. However, it is envisaged that their role in this program would be to act as a link between smaller enterprises in order to enable sufficient training places to be made available to Registered Training Organisations. These bodies will still need to access the program though the ISC.
 
The program is a partnership between enterprises, the Industry Skills Council and the Australian Government. In that context, the Government will cover up to:

  • 50 per cent of the cost for training places for existing workers for enterprises with over 200 employees, with the enterprises contributing the remaining 50 per cent;
  • 75 per cent of the cost for training places for existing workers for enterprises with between 100 and 199 employees, with the enterprises contributing the remaining 25 per cent; and
  • 90 per cent of the cost for training places for existing workers for enterprises with less than 100 employees, with the enterprises contributing the remaining 10 per cent.

Who is eligible to participate in the Program?

Organisations eligible to participate in the Program include:

  • National enterprises;
  • Enterprises and businesses that operate across a number of states/territories;
  • Small and medium enterprises; and
  • National professional associations and industry bodies.

What is the timeframe for the Program?

The EBPPP will commence in November 2009 and extend until 28 May 2010. Enterprises will apply directly to the relevant Industry Skills Council for participation in the program. Applications deemed unsuccessful initially may be resubmitted prior to the cut off date after refining their application.

As outlined in the media release, applications must be made via Industry Skills Councils. For more information on how to apply for EBPPP, please contact your relevant Industry Skills Council.

For more details please see the media release.