2008 Australian Apprenticeships Round Table Report

The Australian Apprenticeships Roundtable provides a forum for Australian Apprentices to inform Ministers and governments about issues affecting their training and careers.

This is the only forum that gives a voice specifically to Australian Apprentices as key users of the national training system and will result in up-to-date information direct from apprentices and trainees about their current experience of vocational pathways, challenges and successes and to inform future policy and program development.

In 2008 the Roundtable commenced with a three-day working meeting in Canberra on 2 - 4 June 2008. A subsequent meeting was held in September and the year culminated in a presentation of key issues to industry and government in Darwin in November 2008.

The Roundtable Report is available here. ( PDF 261KB |RTF 549KB)

Canberra Meeting August 2009

The Australian Apprenticeships Roundtable recently met in Canberra 17 - 18 August. This meeting was the final formal meeting for the 2008 Roundtable and provided an opportunity to further progress a number of action items that emerged from the identified issues outlined in the Roundtable report.

It also provided an opportunity to:

• consult with a number of key program areas within the department;
• provide input into the Australian Apprenticeships Taskforce; and
• to participate in an open discussion with the Australian Apprenticeships Centre Marketing Advisory Group.

The Roundtable also provided input into the planning of 2010 Roundtable activities, refreshed networks and friendships that have grown over the last year of meetings and working group activities and reflected on their significant contribution to date.

All Roundtable participants have made a genuine commitment and contribution to raising the profile of vocational education and training, and informing government policy which was formally acknowledged by the Hon Julia Gillard MP, Minister for Education.

A 2010 Australian Apprenticeships Roundtable will be convened early next year. Information about the nomination process will be available on this website

Adelaide Meeting February 2009

The Australian Apprenticeships Roundtable met in Adelaide in February. The meeting was held in conjunction with a Student Forum. The meeting was opened by the Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Youth. These meetings were held simultaneously to provide an opportunity for the Roundtable to share their experiences with students attending the Forum.

At the Roundtable meeting four new members were introduced. The new members are 2008 Australian Training Awards winners, Rachael Keiley (Australian Apprentice of the Year), Matter Machar (Australian Apprentice (Trainee) of The Year), Melinda Stephens (Stella Axarlis Australian school-based Apprentice of the Year) and Michael Donovan (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander of the Year).

The Roundtable meeting was primarily aimed at finalising the Roundtable report and to focus on how best to progress key suggested action items arising from the report.

Darwin Meeting November 2008

The Roundtable met in Darwin to present their findings on recent research work they have undertaken over the last few months. The presentations were made to the Ministerial Council of Vocational and Technical Education (MCVTE) and to representatives of a broad range of VET stakeholders.

Both presentations were very well received and the participants were provided with highly positive feedback. The MCVTE presentation was productive and successful; the Roundtable was given high profile in a very busy agenda and there was a good deal of interest in what the Roundtable had to say about issues facing apprentices and trainees.

The VET sector presentation was well attended by a variety of VET sector representatives and the issues raised by the Roundtable sparked enthusiastic response and discussion.

The Roundtable members also had the opportunity to attend the Australian Training Awards which was a real highlight for them and a time to celebrate their hard work.

First Roundtable Meeting - June 2008