Business

Female apprentices want more women to try their hand in a traditional trade to increase women in the construction sector.

Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said the NSW Government is investing in fee-free and low-fee apprenticeships and traineeships to help address industry needs, including Built for Women, a program designed to boost female participation.

“We want to make it easier for women to access the skills they job, or a better job,” Mr Henskens said.

“The NSW Government’s infrastructure investment is providing great opportunities for women to pick up the tools and enter a dynamic and rewarding industry.”

Recently released data from the National Centre for Vocational Education and Research shows that female apprentice and trainee numbers are booming across the state, with a 91 per cent surge in commencements in the year to September 2021.

Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said the Built for Women program has supported close to 5,000 free training places for women in trade-related work, including construction, manufacturing, engineering, transport and logistics.

“Greater diversity makes our workplaces stronger and a secure and women who choose a career in trades,” Mrs Taylor said.

Shani Staples is III in Plumbing at TAFE NSW Mount Druitt and is one woman paving the way for more females to break into trade industries.

“The plumbing industry is incredibly rewarding and offers a hands-on environment which is fast-paced and no two days are the same,” Ms Staples said.

“Many people are unaware of the scope of work that a plumbing trade covers, so if a trade is something you’ve ever considered, now is the time to give it a go.”

Tradeswomen leading the way

Budget to accelerate fee-free training

An additional 70,000 people will receive fee-free training as part of a plan by the NSW Government to turbocharge the State’s skills-led recovery and help more people get the skills they need for the jobs they want.

Treasurer Matt Kean said the 2022-23 NSW Budget would invest $82.7 million over four years to continue accelerating the skills boom and helping to deliver the lowest statewide unemployment rate on record at 3.5 per cent.

“This investment will deliver tens of thousands of new apprentices, trainees and full qualifications to help people get skilled for in demand jobs such as builders, hairdressers, carpenters, chefs, electricians and in the critical early childhood, aged care and disability care sectors,” Mr Kean said.

“The NSW Government’s strong economic management means we can deliver fee-free training which is helping people boost their budget and ensure a brighter future for them and their family.”

This new investment in fee-free training is on top of 100,000 fee-free apprenticeships and 70,000 fee-free traineeships already being delivered by the NSW Government.

This NSW Government’s strong focus on skills led to a 77 per cent increase in the number of people commencing apprenticeships and traineeships in the 12 months to September 2021, according the most recent NCVER report. There was a 91 per cent increase in the number of women commencing apprenticeships and traineeships during the same period.

Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said the NSW Government is leading the nation in supporting people to get skilled for jobs to help grow the economy.

“This Budget cements the golden era for skills and training in NSW – there has never been a better time to get the skills you need to unlock a first job, a new job or a better job,” Mr Henskens said.

“As part of our skills-led recovery, we have seen an enormous surge in the number of people commencing apprenticeships and traineeships in NSW and this Budget will turbocharge the take-up of training right across the state.”

Apprentice Employment Network NSW & ACT Executive Officer Jason Sultana said the investment will deliver a pipeline of skilled workers for industry.

“This announcement shows the government is focused on addressing skills shortages for the long-term by removing the financial barriers for young people to move into trade apprenticeships,” Mr Sultana said.

For more details on training available, visit https://education.nsw. gov.au/skills-nsw.

Proposed new names for zones

The Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) is amending the names used for Business and Industrial Zones (Employment Zones) for all Local Environmental Plans (LEP) in NSW.

This also includes the Lismore LEP 2012.

For the most part, this just means a change in zone name with land use permissions remaining unchanged.

One such example is if a shop is permissible with development consent under the old zone, it will be permissible with development consent in the new zone.

In other words, the zone change is “like for like”.

In some instances, two similar existing zones are combined into one new zone. For example, Zones IN1 & IN2 will be known as Zone E4.

This means that the combined total of permissible land uses in Zones IN1 & IN2 will be permissible with consent in Zone E4.

The existing and proposed new zone names are provided below.

Current zone name: B1 Neighbourhood Centre and B2 Local Centre will be E1 Local Centre; B3 Commercial Core will be E2 Commercial Core; B4 Mixed Use with be MU1 Mixed Use; B6 Enterprise corridor will be E3 Productivity Support; IN1 General Industrial and IN2 Light Industrial will be E4 General Industrial.

The DPE employment zone amendment is currently on public exhibition until 5pm on 12 July 2022.

Refer to Your Say Lismore on Council’s web site for details of the amendment and instructions for making a submission to the DPE.