Source: The Mining Weekly                       Date: 17 March, 2011

Australia has launched an 18-month apprenticeship training program for 1,000 workers and  AUD200-million fund for critical skills training to address skills shortages in the country’s resources sector. Skills and Jobs Minister Chris Evans said the program was targeted at practical, industry-based solutions designed to deliver skilled workers.

Releasing the government’s response to the National Resources Sector Employment Taskforce report, he said the government was accepting all its 31 recommendations. “Implementing these will immediately assist the resources sector meet its increasing demand for skilled labor while maintaining the national momentum on addressing skills shortages,” Mr. Evans said.

Industry and government will each provide AUD2 million to the scheme. The government has also opened the AUD200-million Critical Skills Investment Fund to partner with industry to provide training and employment opportunities. The fund would help train 39.000 skilled workers over four years and target areas of critical need for the resources, construction, infrastructure and renewable energy sectors.