AN INNOVATIVE PILOT FOR
WA EMPLOYERS
HOW WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S NEW APPROACH TO CIVIL CONSTRUCTION TRAINING HAS OPENED THE DOOR TO NEW SKILLED WORKERS AND MORE FUNDING FOR EMPLOYERS.
apprenticeships. The apprenticeship model will provide a longer period of training, a formal trade certificate on completion, and a more robust career pathway into the sector. To help make this happen, new funding has been made available through the Construction Training Fund (CTF), one of the industry organisations coordinating the pilot program. CTF is providing $5.996 million to support employers hiring these new apprentices. With funding support, industry enthusiasm and a large pool of WA talent, the outlook for CCPP is promising.
Desiring more skilled and job-ready workers, the industry sought a change in training and qualification of those entering the sector. As a result, training in specific civil construction qualifications changed in September last year. Nine existing traineeship streams have transitioned to apprenticeships, resulting in WA’s first cohort of civil construction apprentices. Once they have completed their training, the apprentices will have attained a Certificate III in either plant operations, trenchless technology or civil construction and a trade certificate. The longer period of training and handson learning provided with apprenticeships will boost the number of skilled workers in the sector. However, this higher qualification also means that training has extended from two years for a traineeship, to three years for an apprenticeship. What are the implications of this for current trainees, new apprentices and their employers? Rob Berryman, CTF’s Director of Skills Development, explains. “The extra training year will improve and cement the skills of the new apprentices and ensure employers have experienced, jobready workers,” he says. “There are financial implications of this change. But CTF’s wage subsidies and grants will eliminate or reduce any wage impact to the apprentice and the employer.” As well as providing financial support, CTF will also facilitate a mandatory induction session for new apprentices. CTF will contact all eligible employers and apprentices to arrange this.
IMPROVING THE CAPABILITY OF NEW CIVIL CONSTRUCTION WORKERS The CCPP is a four-year program developed to address the needs of WA’s civil construction industry.
WAGE GAP SUBSIDIES FOR CIVIL CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYERS The award rate for a junior apprentice is lower than the award rate for a trainee, potentially deterring current trainees from transitioning
The Civil Construction Pilot Program is a four-year program developed to address the needs of WA’s civil construction industry.
W
estern Australia’s civil construction industry is on the rise. Over the next four years, $13 billion will be poured into major civil infrastructure projects across the state. But to deliver on this huge pipeline of work, the industry needs to recruit and retain a skilled workforce. So, what’s being done to make sure this happens? It’s called the Civil Construction Pilot Program (CCPP). Endorsed by Western Australia’s Minister for Education and Training Sue Ellery in September 2021, the CCPP aims to increase the number and capabilities of new workers entering WA’s civil construction industry. Previously only civil construction traineeships were offered. Now with CCPP, the door has opened to new workers with the introduction of civil construction 52
ROADS MAY 2022
