Labor Funds 7000 New Apprenticeships And Traineeships

The Andrews Labor Government is investing $50 million to help thousands of Victorians get back into education and training and to find a job.

While visiting Holmesglen’s Chadstone campus this morning, Premier Daniel Andrews said the TAFE Back to Work Fund is supporting TAFE institutes across Victoria to help more than 7000 Victorians start an apprenticeship or a traineeship.

Mr Andrews also pledged $1.4 million from the Back to Work Fund to get 300 unemployed young people skilled up for jobs in Melbourne’s south-east.

The funding will support a new program at Holmesglen and Chisholm institutes, partnering them with Brotherhood of St Laurence to help jobless young people find employment.

The partnership will provide vocational education and training to 300 people with a senior secondary certificate or equivalent to help them transition to work or further study.

The $50 million fund is saving TAFEs that are struggling financially and helping institutes to build partnerships with companies in the six growth sectors of the economy identified by the Labor Government’s Back to Work Plan to create at least 100,000 jobs.

The Labor Government’s 2015-16 Victorian Budget provided a $350 million boost to the TAFE system.

Minister for Training and Skills, Steve Herbert, said the Labor Government is also supporting local businesses to expand and more people to return to the workforce through the $100 million Back to Work Scheme, which kicks off on 1 July this year.

The scheme provides financial assistance to businesses to hire unemployed youth, the long-term unemployed and retrenched workers.

Quotes attributable to Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews

“Labor is putting TAFEs back on their feet, and getting our state back to work.”

“We’re supporting new training courses to give unemployed Victorians the skills they need for the job they want.”

“Our high-growth industries have a strong future, and we’re making sure Victoria has the skilled workers they need.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills, Steve Herbert

“This project, part of our $50 million TAFE Back to Work Fund, demonstrates what can be achieved when Government, TAFE institutes and the community work together to support new jobs.”

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