Training for the future: Master Builders Training Blueprint: 2006-2010

Several critical structural issues are currently affecting the building and construction industry in Australia. These are the ageing of the workforce, a training system struggling to keep up with the new demands of the building industry and the high drop out rate of apprentices as they fail to complete their training. In response to these challenges, Master Builders Australia (MBA) have released their Training Blueprint for 2006 to 2010. The Blueprint sets out seven key recommendations and calls for a partnership between federal and state governments and the building industry for dealing with pressing skill needs of the industry. The seven recommendations are: (1) Government increases assistance to offset the cost of training apprentices by raising employer incentive payments to $14,000, exempting employer incentive payments from tax, restructuring employer incentive payments, reviewing state and territory government workers compensation insurance costs for apprentices through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) process and increase funding for the Group Training Scheme; (2) Develop a competency-based training and outcome standard for apprenticeships that is nationally consistent, recognises specialist and sub-trade pathways, and is directed towards full trade qualifications; (3) Introduce a level playing field with respect to ‘User Choice’ funding for all Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and make the Institute for Trade Skills Excellence responsible for creating quality standards amongst RTOs; (4) Introduce a skills card system to facilitate inter-state and territory learning and champion nationally consistent regulatory arrangements for licensing purposes based on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF); (5) Develop a communications and career advisory strategy to provide school students with quality information about the full range of career pathways in the building and construction industry; (6) Refine and enhance school-based pre-apprenticeship training as a means of addressing high drop-out rates among apprentices within the industry; (7) Develop and introduce advanced OH&S training to parallel the new OH&S requirement of providers within the apprenticeship training framework. Master Builders Australia is the national body representing the Master Builders Associations of each state and territory in Australia.

Several critical structural issues are currently affecting the building and construction industry in Australia. These are the ageing of the workforce, a training system struggling to keep up with the new demands of the building industry and the high drop out rate of apprentices as they fail to complete their training. In response to these challenges, Master Builders Australia (MBA) have released their Training Blueprint for 2006 to 2010. The Blueprint sets out seven key recommendations and calls for a partnership between federal and state governments and the building industry for ...  [+] Show more