Northern Territory Minister for Workforce Training Selena Uibo

$93 Million To Support Territory Apprentices And Trainees

Victor P Taffa

Northern Territory Government is investing $93 Million in Vocational Education and Training (VET) this financial year to skill the Northern Territory workforce and support the creation of long-term jobs for Territorians.

“Territory Government’s Number 1 priority is jobs for Territorians.” Minister for Workforce Training Selena Uibo said.

“Inaugural Skilling the Territory Annual Investment Plan provides clear direction and support to enable Territorians to pursue apprenticeships and traineeships.”

Apprenticeships and traineeships are a major focus of the Skilling the Territory Annual Investment Plan, the inaugural investment blueprint for the Territory’s VET sector.

New plan increases funding for the sector to help Territorians gain the practical skills they need to lay the foundations for a solid career.

“It is important that skills needs are identified through robust processes and draw on the knowledge of industry networks through a collaborative approach.” Industry Skills Advisory Council NT (ISACNT) General Manager, Debbie Paylor said.

“We look forward to working with the Northern Territory Government to ensure funding is matching the current and future workforce training and skilling needs.”

Plan complements the recently signed bilateral agreement between the Territory Labor Government and the Federal Government, which will support an extra 2000 apprentices and trainees in the Northern Territory over the next 4 years, in addition to the current 3,400.

Key features of the Skilling the Territory Annual Investment Plan include:

• $28.7 Million to support apprenticeships and traineeships, including an enhanced Employers Incentive Scheme
• $56.3 Million to the Public Providers, Charles Darwin University and Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (this includes $14.5 Million in Federal Government funding)
• $3.3 Million to strengthen industry engagement and advice
• $7.85 Million for Targeted and Responsive funding including the new Territory Workforce Program