Avtes : Australian Vocational Training & Employment Services

$3,350 Bonus to Employers putting on an Apprentice

The Deputy Prime Minister has announced Apprentice Kickstart - a $100 million investment. For a limited time only, the Australian Government will provide a $3,350 Apprentice Kickstart Bonus to employers who sign up an apprentice in a traditional trade such as cookery between 1 December 2009 and 28 February 2010.

This incentive is in addition to the $4,000 currently paid to eligible employers of trainees and apprentices, taking the possible total to $7,350. This will be available to employers signing up cookery apprentices, so act now to secure your $3,350 bonus.

See www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au for further information.

Industry Events

Consultative Committee -
Call for Members

AVTES is seeking external stakeholders, including employers, to form a reference group. The group will meet over lunch once or twice a year with the aim to provide AVTES with feedback on industry directions and training needs in addition to feedback on AVTES delivery and assessment practices.

If you are interested in becoming a member of this reference group, you can lodge your interest via chris@avtes.com.au or alternatively, call Chris on 0417 146 341 for further information.

New Skills Reform Funding Available For You!

The Victorian Government has announced a major package of reforms to the Victorian training system. Securing Jobs for Your Future - Skills for Victoria will see $316 million in extra funding and an additional 172,000 training places available over the next four years.

What this means for you is that AVTES is now able to offer more government subsidised training to more individuals. Where individuals were previously not eligible for funding, they may be now!

Exciting opportunities exist for owner/operators, existing workers, casual staff, and even unemployed individuals to access funded training for a higher level qualification, with Certificate II – Advanced Diploma level qualifications being funded across all industry areas.

Why not take this opportunity to get your skills recognized, reward your long-term employees, or upgrade your workforce skills at a fraction of the price.

To confirm your eligibility talk to your AVTES trainer, or for further information on the reforms visit www.skills.vic.gov.au/skillsreform.

Skills for Growth Program

The Skills for Growth program has now commenced. Via this program, independent workforce planning and training specialists will work with small and medium Victorian businesses, free of charge, to identify their strategic business aims and objectives, assess the skills of their existing workforce and identify opportunities for skills development and training.

AVTES is proud to have been selected as one of the Skills for Growth Service Provider Panel members and we will deliver the program to businesses located throughout the Melbourne metropolitan area, as well as regional areas of Barwon South West, and Grampians regions.

AVTES staff are available to visit you in your workplace and provide independent advice and assistance. We will develop a training plan in consultation with you that identifies the most appropriate skills development and training for your business needs.

To be eligible for this free assistance your business must be Victorian based, employ between 1 and 200 staff,have been in operation for at least 12 months, and be financially viable.

To find out more or to register for this FREE service, Visit www.business.vic.gov.au/skillsforgrowth or contact AVTES for further information.