VET News

New Energy Apprenticeships to Power Australia’s Path to Net Zero

An army of skilled workers will be required to build and install the infrastructure needed to achieve a 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030 and net zero by 2050.

That’s why the Australian Government is spending $95.6 million over nine years to support 10,000 New Energy Apprenticeships.

The program will be launched today by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor, who will be accompanied by Member for Perth Pat Gorman at WA’s North Metropolitan TAFE, and will see eligible apprentices receive up to $10,000 over the course of their apprenticeship to assist with the cost of living.

The program forms part of the Powering Australia Plan, and will help to secure a pipeline of talent to deliver Australia’s clean energy infrastructure.

According to the National Skills Commission's 2022 Skills Priority List, the occupations in shortage in WA are largely reflective of the national shortage and include, among others, the care industry, hospitality and tourism, construction, and digital and technology.

Within Western Australia’s list of top 20 occupations with skills shortages, there are a number of clean energy occupations with particularly strong job vacancies in WA, including:

• Metal Fitters and Machinists (around 24% of national job ads for this occupation are from WA)
• Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers (more than 25% of the national job ads for this occupation are from WA).  
• Electricians (around 20% of national job ads are from WA)
• Motor Mechanics (around 19% of national job ads are from WA).

 Other occupations in the clean energy space in shortage in Western Australia include:

• Automotive Electricians (around 30% of national job ads are from WA)
• Mechanical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians (around 25% of national job ads are from WA)
• Sheetmetal Trades Workers (around 16% of national job ads are from WA).

The New Energy Apprenticeships measure is just one of a suite of measures to arrest the declining apprentice completion rates we saw under the previous government.

Minister for Skills and Training, the Hon. Brendan O'Connor said “Clean energy industries are the future for our workers and include work in solar installation, large-scale renewable projects, electric vehicles, green hydrogen, and renewable manufacturing.  The New Energy Apprenticeships Support Payment is designed to encourage apprentices to choose a career in the clean energy sector, support them through it, and help them complete their training to go on and have successful careers."

Read the full Minister's Media Centre Release here.

Date posted Feb 23, 2023