Ministers statements: apprentices and trainees
Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:32): Last week was National Apprenticeship Week. This is an important time to recognise the contributions of apprentices and trainees to Victoria’s economy and community. Since 2019 we have trained more than 20,000 carpenters, electricians and plumbers. That is right: more than 7300 carpenters, 7000 electricians and 5600 plumbers have been awarded their trade papers since this government reintroduced them. All apprentices should be proud to display their trade papers and hang them up on the wall, just like a university degree. I am so proud that more than 20,400 people started a trade apprenticeship in Victoria in 2023–24, an increase of more than 22 per cent compared to 2019–20. This shows that our policies are working to support apprentices and trainees so that Victoria has the skilled workforce it needs to continue to thrive. Our investments are producing award-winning apprentices like Matthew Tyquin, who is the 2024 Australian Apprentice of the Year and the 2024 Victorian Apprentice of the Year. We are also providing direct support to apprentices and trainees. This includes financial assistance, a new help desk and a mental health support system that includes free apprentice employee assistance programs. This is helping apprentices complete their training and succeed in their chosen careers. We know that this is what the public TAFE network does. It delivers more than 70 per cent of all apprenticeships. That is why we will continue to back TAFE and protect it from those who would tear it down. Only the Allan Labor government is truly committed to supporting our apprentices and our public TAFE system.