2. Compendium of Priorities and Initiatives (continued)
Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
The Government provides a wide range of funding and services in early childhood development, education, training and employment. These initiatives are designed to meet the needs of all Australians, including those living in rural, regional and remote areas.
The Government has initiated a major reform program across all these areas to create an education revolution that will improve the quality and outcomes of education for all.
The Government recognises that rural and regional students and their families have special educational needs and there are particular barriers to their effective participation in education.
The Government supports individuals and families living in rural and remote areas to cater for these special needs in the following ways:
- specific drought‑related support, including general income support and student income support
- funding for schools, which directly benefits students and their families by assisting with a wide range of education expenses
- assistance to farming communities, and financial incentives to employers in regions affected by drought
- specific programs exclusively targeted at rural and remote schools and students
- other assistance to rural and regional students and schools through a mix of national education initiatives.
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) administers many programs and initiatives to support these areas. These programs are delivered either through direct financial assistance or incentives or through additional funding to state and territory education authorities.
The Government has also initiated a large number of new programs and support services to help retain jobs and assist people affected by the downturn caused by the current global economic crisis. Many of these programs and services are specifically aimed at helping Australians living in rural and regional areas, as many of these communities are likely to be particularly affected by the difficult economic climate.
The Government is committed to working with regional communities to develop local solutions to the particular challenges they face and develop support services that meet their needs to keep them thriving and get them through the global downturn.
The following is a summary of government initiatives aimed at students, families, schools and other organisations and systems.
Drought‑related initiatives
Specific drought‑related support for schools
The Drought Assistance for Schools initiative is designed to benefit students and was introduced in recognition of the impact of years of drought on farming families. This measure is part of a $715 million package of drought assistance for farmers, small businesses and communities in rural and remote Australia.
The initiative is intended to make it easier for rural families to meet ongoing education expenses and the cost of educational activities such as student excursions, which may be cost prohibitive for families experiencing financial hardship as a result of prolonged drought.
Up to $10,000 is available each year for rural and remote schools located in towns with populations of less than 100,000 in Exceptional Circumstances (EC) declared areas.
Funding consists of a base entitlement of $1,000 for each school plus a per capita allowance of $100 for every enrolled full‑time‑equivalent student. Schools do not need to apply for funding as eligibility is automatic in EC‑declared areas. All schools remain eligible for the duration of an EC declaration with funding provided as a single annual payment. The funding is delivered to schools under cooperative arrangements with state, territory and non‑government education authorities.
Schools are able to spend their funding on items and activities which directly benefit students. This can include textbooks, uniforms, subject levies, excursions, school camps and other support related to schooling and offers relief to drought‑affected families. Funding is not available for capital purposes, staff salaries, utilities costs, purchase of equipment, stationery and other day‑to‑day consumables or school maintenance costs.
The strength of this initiative lies in the flexible funding arrangements and the fact that school communities are able to decide how the funds will be spent. This means that the funding can be used to subsidise excursions or extracurricular activities for whole classes or an entire school, or may be directed, at the principal's discretion, to families most in need.
Feedback from school principals indicates that families in severe financial difficulty who are unable to afford textbooks and subject levies appreciate that this funding measure can assist with a wide range of education expenses. To date all feedback about the Drought Assistance for Schools measure has been overwhelmingly positive. This has largely been due to the absence of red tape and administrative burden at the school level and the freedom for schools to determine how the funds will be spent.
In 2007‑08 more than $22.74 million was delivered to 3,030 government and non‑government schools in rural and remote locations across Australia. Drought Assistance for Schools funding available for 2008‑09 is $23.9 million.
Drought Assistance funding has been extended until 30 June 2010.
Vocational education and training
The Declared Drought Area Incentive is designed to encourage primary producers who hold an Exceptional Circumstances certificate to continue to offer skills development and employment opportunities to people living in a drought‑declared area. Eligible employers can apply for a $1,500 Declared Drought Area commencement incentive and a $1,500 completion incentive for Australian Apprentices (apprentices and trainees) who meet the eligibility criteria. This is in addition to other incentives available to employers who take on an Australian Apprentice.
Drought Force
Drought Force helps individual farms and farming communities in drought‑declared areas which meet the Exceptional Circumstances criteria. The program is designed to ensure that these properties are maintained and are able to cope until the drought breaks. Drought Force also encourages people to remain in their local communities and build and retain skills that support local economies.
Drought Force activities may be undertaken on private land where workers are not displaced. Individual volunteers or people on income support, as well as groups, can assist with drought mitigation tasks such as maintaining irrigation channels, hand feeding, watering stock, fencing, general repairs and maintenance.
Initiatives for rural and remote communities
Schools
The Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) scheme supports eligible primary, secondary and tertiary students unable to attend an appropriate government school on a daily basis because of their geographic isolation. The scheme provides financial assistance to families for the costs of boarding and other expenses for their children. In 2008, AIC assisted 11,212 rural and isolated school students at a cost of $60.7 million.
From 1 January 2008, the AIC scheme was enhanced in the following ways:
- a $1,000 Distance Education supplement (rising to $1,045 in 2009) became payable to all recipients of the AIC Distance Education Allowance
- the AIC Additional Boarding Allowance increased by $1,000 to $2,164 in 2008 (rising to $2,261 in 2009).
The Country Areas Program (CAP) is designed to help schools and remote communities improve educational opportunities and outcomes for students who are disadvantaged because of their geographical isolation. Between 2005 and 2008, $114.1 million was provided under the program.
In 2008, CAP provided $30.5 million to government, Catholic and independent schools in all Australian states and the Northern Territory. This funding is in addition to the funds allocated to schools according to the local priorities and needs identified by the relevant education authorities.
From 2009, CAP funding for government schools has been incorporated into the National Education Agreement. CAP funding for all Catholic and independent schools will be covered by the Schools Assistance Act 2008.
Since 2008, non‑government schools have received a remoteness loading calculated as an additional percentage above their per capita general recurrent grant funding for students studying at eligible locations. Non‑government schools or campuses classified as moderately accessible, remote or very remote receive an additional 5 per cent, 10 per cent or 20 per cent respectively of the funding entitlement associated with their socioeconomic status score. The funding is provided in recognition of the higher cost of delivering education services in regional and remote regions of Australia and the negative impact that this can have on student achievement levels. In 2008, 439 non‑government schools across 469 campus locations received the loading.
The National School Drug Education Strategy — Indigenous, Rural and Remote Initiative helps Indigenous, rural and remote school communities to tackle drug‑related problems. Between 2009‑10, $0.5 million is available for this initiative.
The Smarter Schools Low Socio‑economic School Communities National Partnership will provide $1.5 billion over seven years to improve educational outcomes in schools with a high concentration of disadvantaged students. Schools will receive four years of funding, with those in rural and remote areas receiving additional weighted funding in recognition of the higher costs of delivering education in those areas. Many of the schools that will be selected by states and territories to participate in this National Partnership will be in rural and remote Australia.
Supporting Teachers
The single greatest influence in school on student engagement and achievement is the quality of the teacher. To support Australia's teacher workforce, the Australian Government is investing $550 million through the Improving Teacher Quality Partnership. This will help attract and retain quality teachers and leaders in schools. Of this funding, $50 million will be directed to professional development and to support principals to better manage their schools and improve student results. Strategies to retain teachers in rural and remote areas are an important element of the National Partnership.
Higher education
In response to the Review of Australian Higher Education (the Bradley Review), the Government is introducing a package of significant reforms in the 2009‑10 Budget to help achieve its education outcome objectives. The reforms will increase access to student income support and provide more equitable assistance. This will ensure more students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, Indigenous students and those from rural and regional areas are able to participate in education and training.
A centrepiece of the reforms is a new Student Start‑up Scholarship of $2,254, starting in 2010, for all higher education students receiving student income support through Youth Allowance, Austudy and ABSTUDY, except for those already receiving Commonwealth Scholarships. The new scholarship will ensure students from low income backgrounds, including many regional students, will have the assistance they need for textbooks and specialised equipment.
The Government is also introducing a Relocation Scholarship of $4,000 in the first year and $1,000 in later years, to assist university students receiving Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY with the costs of moving for study. Dependent students who have to move away from home to study and disadvantaged independent students who are unable to live in the family home will be able to access the Relocation Scholarship. Students in receipt of the Relocation Scholarship may also be eligible for Rent Assistance. Both scholarships will be paid through Centrelink.
The Student Start‑up Scholarship and the Relocation Scholarship will replace the Government's Commonwealth Education Costs and Accommodation Scholarships. Existing Commonwealth Scholarships will continue to be paid to continuing students until the completion of their course of study.
Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarships will continue under the existing Commonwealth Scholarship Program.
Regional loading provides extra funding under the Commonwealth Grant Scheme to assist higher education providers with regional campuses to meet additional costs associated with operating these campuses. Regional loading recognises the unique contribution these campuses make to their local communities and the higher costs faced by providers because of their location, size and history. In 2009, $31.2 million in regional loading was allocated. The Australian Government has made a commitment that the cost of providing quality teaching and research in regional Australia will be examined and a new, more logical basis for funding will be introduced.
The Government is funding 1,134 new Commonwealth supported higher education nursing places in 2009. More than 300 of these places have been allocated to regional campuses to create opportunities for students to study nursing without having to relocate to a metropolitan campus. More than 60 per cent of courses will provide clinical placement opportunities in rural and regional areas.
The Australian Government will provide $394 million to increase higher education equity funding from 2010 so that it reaches approximately 4 per cent of teaching and learning grants in 2012. The increased equity funding will support higher education institutions to attract and retain students from low socioeconomic status backgrounds. The increased funding will deliver:
- a new partnership program to systemically link universities with schools, vocational education and training providers and adult education to increase aspirations of students to higher education and the rates of higher education attainment of low socioeconomic status, Indigenous, regional and remote students
- a major student‑related component paid as a loading based on numbers of low socioeconomic status students in the enrolment profile of each institution.
This will support the Government's ambition that by 2020, 20 per cent of higher education enrolments at the undergraduate level should be of people from a low socioeconomic status background.
HECS‑HELP benefit
The Government has provided $12.4 million to reduce by about half the HELP debt of early childhood education teachers who work in areas of high need. Areas of high need are regional or remote areas, Indigenous communities, or areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage.
The benefit will reduce compulsory HELP debt repayments by up to $1,536 a year (in 2009) for up to the equivalent of five years.
Early childhood education teachers whose income is below the minimum repayment threshold may also apply for a reduction in their HELP debt. Early childhood education teachers working in eligible locations during the 2008‑09 income year will be able to apply to the Tax Office for the benefit from 1 July 2009.
Vocational education and training
The Rural and Regional Skills Shortage Incentive is designed to boost training in rural and regional Australia. It provides a special commencement incentive for a rural or regional employer who employs an Australian Apprentice (apprentice or trainee) in an area of skills shortage at the Certificate III or IV level. The qualification must be listed as a national skills shortage occupation. Eligible employers can receive a $1,000 Rural and Regional commencement incentive for Australian Apprentices who meet the eligibility criteria.
The Living Away From Home Allowance (LAFHA) assists eligible Australian Apprentices during the first three years of their Australian Apprenticeship. The allowance is for Australian Apprentices who have to move away from their parent's or guardian's home to take up or remain in an Australian Apprenticeship, or receive essential supplementary on‑the‑job training with another employer. LAFHA is also available when an Australian Apprentice is homeless.
Eligible Australian apprentices receive $77.17 a week for up to a year, $38.59 a week for a further 12 months and $25 a week for an additional 12 months.
In the 2009‑10 Budget, the Government delivers on its commitment to increase participation in higher education. The reforms will also support students from disadvantaged backgrounds to remain in secondary education or take up opportunities in vocational education and training. Many young Australians will benefit from the fairer arrangements and receive the assistance they need to increase their educational qualifications. The measures will also benefit regional students and students who come from a regional background who must study away from home.
Among the measures that will better support rural and regional students are:
- relaxing the parental income test for dependants under Youth Allowance and ABSTUDY, increasing the threshold from $32,800 to $42,559. This will significantly expand access to student income support for young people from low‑income backgrounds. It will also benefit existing students whose parents have a combined income above the threshold and who currently receive partial payments with an entitlement to a higher payment rate
- lowering the age of independence from 25 years to 22 years, commencing with 24 years in 2010
- relaxing the personal income test to $400 per fortnight, beginning in 2011, to allow students to earn more from part‑time work and retain more from scholarships awarded to them before their income support payments are reduced
- extending student income support to all masters by coursework programs, commencing in 2012
- relaxing the means testing of equity and merit‑based scholarships provided by universities and philanthropic organisations. Beginning in 2010, this measure will significantly support philanthropic efforts to improve education participation in regional Australia and support students to transfer to university studies by providing targeted scholarships.
Indigenous Students
The Indigenous Support Program (ISP) funds eligible higher education providers to help them meet the specific needs of Indigenous students and advance the goals of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy. ISP grants assist with Indigenous support activities, including activities for Indigenous students from rural and isolated areas. In 2008, $34.1 million was allocated for this initiative.
The Indigenous Youth Leadership Program provides educational opportunities for up to 200 Indigenous youth at high‑performing government and non‑government schools, as well as up to 50 university places. The program is designed to give Indigenous youth from remote areas the educational opportunities and experiences they need to take on future leadership roles in their communities. Students also receive mentoring, targeted orientation, study tours and practical leadership experiences.
The Indigenous Youth Mobility Program (IYMP) is for Indigenous young people aged 16 to 24 from remote areas. With the support of their families and local communities, the program helps Indigenous youth relocate to an IYMP host location to complete the qualifications they need to obtain a sustainable job. The IYMP focuses on pre‑vocational training, Australian Apprenticeships, certificate courses, and some tertiary pathways, including courses leading to qualifications in nursing, teaching, accounting and business management.
Away from Base (AFB) for 'mixed‑mode' delivery covers travel costs including fares, meals and accommodation for students studying approved mixed‑mode courses. Eligible providers in the higher education and vocational educational and training sectors administer AFB funding. The funding is available to increase access and participation in tertiary study for Indigenous students from rural and remote areas, increase enrolments and retention, improve educational outcomes, increase employment prospects, and enhance life choices and the quality of life of Indigenous people.
The education measures of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) are designed not only to close the gap in educational disadvantage between Indigenous and non‑Indigenous Australians but also to strengthen rural and regional Australia.
There are three NTER education measures announced in the 2009‑10 Budget.
The School Nutrition Program ($37.5 million over three years) continues the Government's contribution towards improving student engagement and attendance through a breakfast and lunch program to school‑aged children in schools in communities covered by the NTER. The program also provides job opportunities and training for local Indigenous people living in remote communities.
The Teacher Housing Program ($11.2 million over one year) addresses the urgent need for teacher accommodation in remote areas in the Northern Territory. Up to 22 additional teacher houses will be built in NTER communities. This measure builds on the $5 million provided for up to 10 teacher houses in Wadeye. The measure will assist in teacher recruitment and retention.
Expansion of the Enhancing Education Elements Program ($45.7 million over three years) continues the Government's commitment to remote schools and students in the Northern Territory. The measure includes an additional $23 million for the Quality Teaching Package and $22.7 million for the Accelerated Literacy initiative.
Mainstream initiatives available to rural and remote communities
A wide range of national initiatives can assist schools, students and families in remote, rural and regional areas.
Early Childhood Education and Care
In December 2007, the Council of Australian Governments agreed to pursue substantial reform in education and early childhood development, which includes the development of a National Quality Agenda (NQA) for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). The NQA includes the development of a new regulatory approach and delivery model, new integrated national quality standard and a quality rating system.
The development of enhanced regulatory arrangements is an integral component of the Government's early childhood reforms. The Government is working closely with state and territory governments to streamline licensing, regulatory and accreditation systems to minimise duplication, reduce the administrative burden on service providers and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the system.
The development of the new standard will integrate current licensing and accreditation requirements. They will consider the prime structural indicators of quality of care such as staff‑to‑child ratios, group size and the educational qualifications of the workforce. The new standard will also need to be flexible and be able to be applied to a broad range of care settings.
Associated with this is the development of a rating system that will assess how an ECEC service provider is performing against the outcomes in the new national quality standard. This includes considering how relevant information about the quality of the service may be communicated to families and communities in a way that is useful to them.
As part of the NQA development process, the Government is consulting with a wide range of early childhood education and care providers, peak bodies, early childhood experts and parents.
The draft standard, rating system and proposed regulatory options will be released for public consultation during 2009.
The Early Years Learning Framework is a key component of the Government's early childhood reforms under the NQA. It will underpin universal access to early childhood education and be incorporated in the National Quality Standard to ensure delivery of nationally consistent and quality early childhood education. The Early Years Learning Framework is an early childhood education curriculum framework, which will guide early childhood educators in developing quality early childhood programs. It will describe the broad parameters, principles and outcomes required to support and enhance children's learning from birth to five years of age as well as their transition to school.
A Charles Sturt University‑led consortium of early childhood experts from across Australia is undertaking the development of the draft Early Years Learning Framework and supporting documentation for practitioners and parents. The draft framework was the subject of extensive consultation conducted across Australia to assess stakeholder views and to discuss and refine key components of the draft framework. The draft framework is being further developed following recent field trials.
The Early Years Learning Framework will be implemented from July 2009.
Schools
The Government will deliver a $14.7 billion boost to its Education Revolution over the next three years.
Building the Education Revolution (BER) begins in 2009 and will deliver new infrastructure, facilities and refurbishments to Australia's schools, so they can meet the needs of 21st century students and teachers.
Every Australian school will have access to funds through the Government's $987.2 million investment in 2008‑09, $8.5 billion during 2009‑10, and $5.2 billion in 2010‑11.
BER complements the existing and planned investments by the states, territories and the non‑government system. It is a critical component of the Government's economic stimulus package, giving schools and students the bricks and mortar infrastructure and resources they deserve.
To ensure that BER has the greatest impact on job creation, it is essential that construction and maintenance work begins as soon as possible. The program builds on the Government's commitment to deliver a world‑class education to all schools throughout the country.
The three key elements of BER are:
- Primary Schools for the 21st Century — $12.4 billion will be spent on building or renewing large‑scale infrastructure in all primary schools and K‑12s (primary component), including libraries, multipurpose halls and classrooms.
- Science and Language Centres for 21st Century Secondary School — $1 billion will be allocated to build around 500 new science laboratories and language learning centres in secondary schools able to demonstrate the need, readiness and capacity to complete construction during 2009‑10.
- National School Pride Program — $1.3 billion will go towards refurbishing and renewing existing infrastructure and minor works with funding of up to $200,000, depending on the size of the school.
The Capital Grants Program (CGP) has supported the construction and upgrading of schools in partnership with state and territory governments, non‑government school authorities and local school communities. Between 2005 and 2008, as part of the CGP General Element, the Government provided $1.21 billion to government schools and $514 million to non‑government schools in remote, rural and regional areas. An additional $17 million in CPG funding was made available over 2005‑08 for non‑government schools in rural and isolated communities in the Northern Territory. From 2009, states and territories have the capital grants funding rolled into their specific purpose payment. The Capital Grants Program will continue to operate for the non‑government sector over the next four years.
The Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) provides a subsidy for students from Years 4 to 12 to travel to Canberra as part of their civics and citizenship education. In May 2006, $16.3 million was allocated to PACER over four years.
The Trade Training Centres in Schools Program will provide up to $2.5 billion over 10 years to build new trade training centres in Australia's secondary schools. The program will focus on providing industry‑standard trade workshops, facilities and equipment to promote the teaching of vocational education and training for students in years 9, 10, 11 and 12 in government, Catholic and independent secondary schools. The program began in 2008. One of the program's priorities is to support Indigenous students and students from rural, regional and disadvantaged communities.
The National Secondary Schools Computer Fund is investing $2.1 billion to improve secondary school student access to world‑class information and technology as part of the $2.2 billion Digital Education Revolution. The fund will provide for new or upgraded ICT for secondary students in years 9 to 12. Already funding has been approved for more than 292,000 computers in almost 2,700 schools.
- additional support for students with disabilities
- performance‑based disability support funding
- The Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training.
In 2007, $6.74 million was provided for this initiative.
The Regional Disability Liaison Officer initiative (formally part of the Higher Education Disability Support Program) has been merged with the Disability Coordination Officer program to form the National Disability Coordination Officer (NDCO) program. The NDCO program began on 1 January 2008.
The NDCO program funds a comprehensive national network of 31 coordination officers. These officers offer information and referral services for people with disability who are interested in, or enrolled in, post‑school education and training.
To facilitate the structural adjustment needed to implement the recommendations of the Bradley Review, the Australian Government has established the Structural Adjustment Fund, amounting to about $400 million over four years from 2009‑10. The fund replaces the Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund. It will support the development of more sustainable entities by creating greater diversity and potentially new forms of institutions, and improve the interface between higher education and vocational education and training.
The Government will transform Australia's higher education and vocational education and training institutions over the next decade with the $8.7 billion Education Investment Fund (EIF). The EIF comprises the balance from the Higher Education Endowment Fund and funds from the 2007‑08 Budget surplus.
The EIF was announced in the 2008‑09 Budget and is a major component of the Government's Education Revolution. The role of the EIF is to build a modern, productive, internationally competitive Australian economy by supporting world‑leading, strategically focused infrastructure investments that will transform Australian tertiary education and research. The EIF will provide funding for projects that create or develop significant infrastructure in higher education institutions, research institutions and vocational education and training providers in order to:
- transform Australia's knowledge generation and teaching capabilities
- boost participation in tertiary education
- position Australia to meet domestic skills needs now and into the future
- enhance Australia's innovation capacity
- invigorate the growth of Australia's research capabilities
- enhance Australia's international competitiveness in education and research.
Additional early childhood university places
The Government has provided $53.9 million to create additional Commonwealth‑supported university places for students wishing to undertake early childhood education qualifications, starting with 500 additional places in 2009 and rising to 1,500 additional places by 2011.
Of the 500 additional places allocated for 2009, 150 were allocated to campuses in regional areas.
Partnerships and careers
The Local Community Partnerships (LCPs) initiative supports young people aged from 13 to 19 to achieve a successful transition from school to further education, training and work. LCPs facilitate the continuation of the Structured Workplace Learning Program and have implemented the Career and Transition Support and the Adopt a School programs.
The Regional Industry Career Advisers Network provides quality regional industry career advice, information and resources to Local Community Partnerships, employers and businesses.
Industry career advisers are supported by the National Industry Careers Specialists Network, which identifies, gathers and provides industry‑specific career information and advice, including information on skills needs and labour markets.
Youth Pathways is designed to help young people aged 13 to 19 who are the most at risk of not making a successful transition from school to further education, training, employment and active participation in the community. Youth Pathways is designed to reduce the number of early school leavers who are not employed or continuing their education in the 12 months after leaving school.
Connections provides a full‑time education and personal development program for young people aged 13 to 19 who are disconnected from mainstream schooling. The initiative delivers accredited education, life skills and employability skills training in supported community settings. Participants are also given support to deal with personal issues and build self‑esteem and resilience. This holistic and flexible approach gives participants the foundations they need to reach their potential.
Early learning
To increase quality and affordable integrated early learning and care, the Government has established up to 260 Early Learning and Care Centres in areas of unmet demand for child care. In the 2008‑09 Budget, the Government allocated $114.5 million over four years to establish 38 centres in priority locations (including six autism‑specific centres). The funding includes both the capital costs and the ongoing costs of establishing additional child care places, including the Child Care Benefit and Child Care Tax Rebate. The Government is carefully considering how best to deliver the remaining early learning and care centres, taking account of the recent child care market developments in each priority location.
Vocational education and training
Through the Productivity Places Program (PPP) the Government is assisting industry to respond to the current economic downturn, as well as build capacity for a future economic recovery.
The PPP, which commenced in April 2008 as part of the Skilling Australia for the Future initiative, will provide an additional 711,000 training places over five years to ensure Australians develop the skills that industry needs. Of these places, 392,000 will be allocated to existing workers wanting to gain or upgrade their skills and 319,000 places (including 20,000 places for redundant and recently retrenched workers) will be allocated to job seekers.
Australian Apprenticeships (apprenticeships and traineeships) combine training and employment through paid work and structured training and lead to a nationally recognised qualification. They are available in a variety of certificate levels in more than 500 occupations, in traditional trades, as well as a diverse range of emerging careers in most sectors of business and industry. Australian Apprenticeships are administered through Australian Apprenticeships Centres (AAC).
As part of the 2009‑10 Budget, the Government will announce an increased level of support for agricultural and, in rural and regional Australia, horticultural Australian Apprentices. Currently, these Australian Apprentices may attract a combined value of up to $1,800 under the Apprenticeship Training (Fee) Voucher Program and the Tools For Your Trade initiative. However, this level of support will increase up to $3,800 with the introduction of the Tools For Completion payment.
From 1 January 2010, the Tools For Completion payment will replace the Tools For Your Trade initiative, the Apprenticeship Wage Top‑Up and the Commonwealth Trade Learning Scholarship. It will support Australian Apprentices in skills shortage trades, agricultural occupations and, in rural and regional Australia, horticultural occupations. The Tools For Completion program will provide eligible Australian Apprentices with up to $3,800 over the life of their Australian Apprenticeship. Eligible Australian Apprentices will receive a tax‑exempt $800 payment at the three, 12 and 24 month points of their training and a $700 payment at the 36 month point and on successful completion.
The Support for Mid‑Career Apprentices initiative began on 1 July 2007 to help Australian Apprentices aged 30 and over who commence an Australian Apprenticeship at the Certificate III or IV level in a trade where there is a skills shortage. Depending on the industrial arrangements, the initiative provides either income support to an Australian Apprentice or a wage subsidy to their employer. From 1 January 2010, support will be extended to Australian Apprentices aged 25 and over at commencement of their Australian Apprenticeship.
The Government offers a financial incentive to employers who engage an Australian Apprentice. The commencement incentive for a Certificate III or IV or selected Diploma or Advanced Diploma qualification is higher than that paid for a Certificate II qualification in recognition of the greater contribution to the skills base offered by Certificate III or IV, selected Diploma or Advanced Diploma training.
TAFE fees waiver for child care diploma and advanced diploma courses
The Government has provided $60.3 million to support an expected 8,000 people a year, including existing child care workers, to gain a vocational education and training qualification in early childhood. The funding will be used to remove regulated course fees for child care diplomas and advanced diplomas delivered by a TAFE institute or other government training provider, from 2009.
Language, Literacy and Numeracy
The Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program provides training for eligible participants designed to increase their literacy and numeracy skills to help them participate more effectively in training or in the labour force. The program will receive $3 million over three years for additional training places for job seekers in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory wanting to improve basic skills.
The Workplace English Language and Literacy Program provides funding to organisations to train Indigenous workers in English language, literacy and numeracy skills. Funding of $18.1 million will be available to organisations for language and literacy training linked to job‑related workplace training. The program is designed to help workers meet their current and future job and training needs.
Jobs Fund
The Jobs Fund is a $650 million initiative to support and create jobs and skills development through projects that build community infrastructure and social capital in local communities. The Jobs Fund forms part of the Government's Jobs and Training Compact.
The Jobs Fund is a discretionary grants program which will begin on 1 July 2009. Some funding has been brought forward to 2008‑09 and the program will finish on 30 June 2011. Funding will be in the form of one‑off grants. They will support the delivery of innovative social or infrastructure projects that create jobs and employment opportunities in communities affected by the economic downturn, while delivering positive environmental, heritage and social outcomes. Projects will focus on directly generating jobs for people in communities with high unemployment, a rise in unemployment or vulnerability.
The Jobs Fund is a three‑pronged initiative comprising:
- Local Jobs — $300 million (including $60 million for heritage‑related projects and $40 million for the construction of bike paths)
- Get Communities Working — $200 million
- Infrastructure Employment Projects — $150 million.
Reforms to Employment Services — Job Services Australia: People, Skills and Jobs
The Government's new employment service, Job Services Australia, commences on 1 July 2009 and represents a $4.9 billion investment in supporting people who are unemployed. Job Services Australia folds seven separate employment services programs into a 'one‑stop shop' that provides job seekers with a more personalised service.
Under Job Services Australia, job seekers will receive assistance tailored to their individual needs and level of disadvantage. Job Services Australia providers will help job seekers access training, work experience and other assistance to help them to find employment.
An Employment Pathway Fund (EPF) will enable providers to purchase a range of support for job seekers, specific to their needs. The amount of funding available in the EPF increases relative to a job seeker's level of disadvantage and can be used to purchase services such as counselling and rehabilitation as well as undertake personal development and self‑esteem courses. The EPF can also be used to fund wage subsides, travel assistance and training courses.
Job Services Australia will also have a greater focus on employers, and providers will work with local employers to understand their labour needs and how best to fill their job vacancies.
As part of Job Services Australia, a panel of employer brokers has been established to ensure that employment services have a strong focus on matching the needs of job seekers with the labour requirements of employers. Brokers will coordinate and target the efforts of employment services providers to better match the labour needs of employers with appropriate job seekers.
The Australian Government has established a $41 million Innovation Fund to address the needs of the most disadvantaged job seekers (such as Indigenous Australians, people with mental health conditions, the homeless or those at risk of homelessness, and people from jobless families or who are living in areas of entrenched disadvantage). Projects will be funded that foster innovative solutions to overcome barriers to employment which these job seekers face. The first projects will commence from 1 July 2009.
Disability Employment Services
From 1 March 2010, the Government will be implementing new streamlined Disability Employment Services. Under the new Disability Employment Services, places will be uncapped and all job seekers with disability will have access to individually tailored employment services.
Indigenous Employment Program
Improving employment opportunities and the job readiness of Indigenous Australians is crucial to building pathways out of poverty and disadvantage. The Government is committing $778.8 million over five years to the Indigenous Employment Program (IEP). Reforms to the IEP will begin on 1 July 2009. The new Indigenous employment services will allow the Government to work with Indigenous communities, organisations and individuals to deliver a broad range of projects suited to their own local circumstances and focusing on the best employment outcomes. The reformed Indigenous employment services will enable organisations from around Australia to tender to become a member of one or both new panels which will deliver local employment solutions for Indigenous Australians.
Reforms to the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) Program together with the IEP are a key step towards meeting the target of halving the employment gap between Indigenous and non‑Indigenous Australians within a decade.
Early access to intensive employment services for workers made redundant
The Government is committing a further $298.5 million to ensure that, from 1 April 2009, workers who have been made redundant are eligible for immediate access to intensive employment services.
In addition, the Government is providing additional training opportunities for workers made redundant with 10,000 new training places through the Productivity Places Program ($77.2 million) and 5,888 new Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program Places ($28.2 million).
Further information
Further information about education and schools initiatives relating to rural and regional Australia is available at www.dest.gov.au. This includes the Indigenous Support, Indigenous Youth Leadership and Indigenous Youth Mobility programs.
Information about apprenticeships, skills shortages and the Declared Drought Incentive is available at www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au.
Information about Newstart Allowance and ABSTUDY is available at www.centrelink.gov.au.
Information on Youth Allowance is available at http://myaccount.centrelink.gov.au.
Information about the Drought Force initiative is available at www.workplace.gov.au.
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