An expanded program developed by the Department of Training and Workforce Development means childcare, aged and disability care, and civil construction workers are able to save thousands of dollars on upskilling courses.
The Department’s Lower fees, local skills Program has been extended, with a further 30 TAFE courses discounted, along with the introduction of reduced fees for workers in critical industries needing to upskill.
The initiatives are being jointly funded through a $103.5 million agreement between the State and Commonwealth Governments.
Premier, Mark McGowan said workers in industries which had a critical need to upskill workers would be able to access low-fee Existing Worker Traineeships.
“For example, the childcare industry has an urgent need to upskill existing workers to meet the sector’s mandatory accreditation requirements for a qualified workforce,” Mr McGowan said.
“The low-fee places for childcare began this month to address this immediate need.”
The Premier said workers looking to upskill in aged and disability care, and civil construction sectors would also be able to access savings in the thousands of dollars when the low fees for existing worker traineeships in those sectors come into effect on 1 January.
“These initiatives respond to workforce issues raised by industry leaders at the recent Perth and regional Skills Summits,” he said.
“In addition to the existing worker traineeships, the Lower fees, local skills initiative has been expanded by a further 30 courses to now include a total of 210 courses with heavily reduced fees.”
Mr McGowan said the expansion covered a wide range of industries including train driving, veterinary nursing, crane operations, surveying, laboratory technology, wool classing, hospitality management and others.
