Canberrans will be able to upskill or reskill in a range of fields with free training places being made available, following a $16.75m extension of the JobTrainer program delivered in partnership between the ACT and Australian Governments.
The investment is part of our plan to create 250,000 local jobs by 2025 and will focus on the priority needs of the ACT economy.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly tough for younger people starting out in their careers and those who have lost employment.
To help young Canberrans get the right skills, free training places in a range of critical skills needs areas will be available to people aged 17 to 24 who have left school, and jobseekers.
The expansion of JobTrainer will see up to 2,500 additional training places made available and delivered over the next two years.
The new funding will also support other vulnerable Canberrans who struggle to find a job, including those who have been out of work for an extended period, through providing places in pre-employment, pre-apprenticeship and foundation skills programs.
JobTrainer will provide a mix of full qualifications and short courses, with 575 training places reserved for aged care and 170 places reserved for digital skills. Free places in aged care, early childhood education and care, disability care and digital skills will be made available to all Canberrans, not just jobseekers or young people.
The first training places will be made available before the end of 2021, supporting ACT school leavers into further education and training so they can find a good job.
In partnership with the Australian Government, we are also providing free training and short courses through the Infection Control Training program, to help local businesses keep their workers and customers safe.
This program will support Canberra’s safe and gradual reopening by giving workers in industries including retail, hospitality and personal services access to nationally accredited training on how to operate in a COVID-safe way.
The Future Skills for Future Jobs grants program has also opened this week. It will provide up to $1 million for innovative projects delivered in partnership with industry to increase the uptake of Australian Apprenticeships.
