Jeremy Rockliff,Minister for Education and Training
With the number of major construction projects underway in Launceston there is a great opportunity for more young locals to learn skills for a life-long career.
The new Launceston Apprentice Pipeline Program will support young people in taking up apprenticeships, bolstering numbers in the Launceston area, and will aim to achieve 80 additional apprenticeships over the next three years.
The program has been developed by the Tasmanian Building and Construction Industry Training Board (TBCITB) in partnership with Skills Tasmania, Housing Industry Australia (HIA) and Master Builders Tasmania.
The Government is providing $100,000 for the project and the TBCITB has already committed $150,000 to the initiative.
Importantly, it will be delivered by the Tasmanian Building Group Apprentice Scheme, which has been employing and placing apprentices across the state for 34 years.
It will give participants ten weeks of hands-on work experience across the year, allowing them to build the skills and attributes that small to medium size employers need while supporting their future careers in the building and construction industry.
The first stage of the program will award 20 scholarships to year 11 students, allowing them to undertake a Certificate II in Construction.
Over the past three years the value of construction work has increased significantly in the Launceston area and there is more on the cards.
Construction alone increased by 27 per cent in 2017 and a further 46 per cent in 2018, and the University of Tasmania Inveresk project is expected to increase that figure by 40 per cent for each year of the build.
The Hodgman Liberal Government’s record $2.6 billion infrastructure investment is a significant contributor to this increase in construction and jobs.
