Employers in the Gilmore electorate are being encouraged to take on trainees after the launch of the 2018 Apprenticeship Challenge on Monday.
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Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis met with staff from MBC Employment Service to kick off the program, which aims to connect apprentices and job seekers with employers.
MBC Employment Service’s Annette Beesley hoped the program would get trainees into work and help small businesses acquire the skills they were searching for.
“This is going to boost small business because it’s going to give them an employee to trial – a try before you buy – and it gives the job seeker a reference to put on their resume,” Ms Beesley said.
“It opens up the opportunity for people to take on an apprentice or take on a traineeship. I’m not just talking about young people, but about older people as well.
“That can only boost our economy.”
Mrs Sudmalis said the program would run from April to June and would ensure greater engagement with industry and employers. She commended MBC Employment on their uptake of the program.
“This particular job seeker provider service is one of my standout success stories,” Mrs Sudmalis said.
“They’re really good at mentoring the relationship between the employer and they employee and they’re really good at taking up new initiatives.
“There’s a new initiative from the Federal Government for 50,000 pre-apprenticeship places, which enables young people or mature age people to try a new position, try a new apprenticeship situation and if that works, great, they can sign all the paperwork and see how it goes.
“If it doesn't work, they can walk away with no loss.”
Mrs Sudmalis and Ms Beesley hoped the program would encourage job seekers to upskill and take on employment they may not have considered previously.
“It’s a transitioning situation that will enable guys likes (MBC Employment) to put people in places, like aged care or disability care, where they’ve never thought of that as a possible employment avenue, and all of a sudden, that opens a door for them,” Mrs Sudmalis said.
Mrs Beesley noted one of her personal success stories.
“I had one lady who had been a cleaner for 50 years who is now in disability support work. She came to me a few weeks ago and said, ‘You’ve changed my life’. That’s worth everything to us,” she said.
For more details on the program, contact ann.sudmalis.mp@aph.gov.au or phone 4423 1782.
