The Minister's Awards are held annually and recognise the valuable contribution employers in Australia make to providing quality training through Australian Apprenticeships.
The Awards are open to employers in metropolitan, rural and regional areas nationally who train Australian Apprentices.
Australian Apprenticeships Centres in 22 regions across Australia encouraged their outstanding local employers to submit applications to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. The Department then processes applications and forwards them for consideration to Regional Selection Panels.
Applications close 5pm on Friday 18 April 2008.
The Selection Panels are chaired by officers from the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and include representatives from local business and industry.
Applicants are required to provide evidence of:
Applicants are also required to provide two referees, one of which is to be an Australian Apprentice.
Winners will be presented with $5,000 cash, a certificate and a unique trophy at a national presentation ceremony.
The name “Australian Apprenticeships” has replaced the scheme known as New Apprenticeships, and the name "Australian Apprenticeships Centres" has replaced New Apprenticeships Centres. Australian Apprenticeships are are a first-rate career option and are as professionally, financially and personally rewarding as a university pathway.
The Australian Apprenticeships scheme provides opportunities for people to gain industry-recognised skills, national qualifications and establish a worthwhile career.
The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) estimates that there were 403,600 people undertaking Australian Apprenticeships at 31 March 2006, compared with 154,800 as at March 1996. The NCVER’s latest figures also reveal a 6 per cent increase over the previous year in Australian Apprentices completing their training.
Australian Apprenticeships recognise a truly national and sophisticated training pathway that offer exciting and interesting career opportunities. Australian Apprenticeships provide the opportunity to simultaneously train, study and earn an income, and are available in more than 500 occupations, in a diverse range of industries including: arts and media; automotive trades; building and construction; education; financial services; hairdressing; health and community services; information technology and telecommunications; metals and engineering; multimedia; retail; rural sector and horticulture; sport and recreation; and tourism and hospitality.
Australian Apprenticeships combine practical work experience with structured training which can be on or off the job and result in a nationally recognised qualification.
Australian Apprenticeships can be undertaken while still at school. Australian School-based Apprenticeships are an increasingly popular career option for secondary school students as they are able to gain a vocational and technical education (VTE) qualification while pursuing their senior secondary certificate. According to the NCVER, part-time Australian Apprentices and Australian School-based Apprentices, account for 104,000 of all Australian Apprentices in training.
Australian Apprenticeships are open to anyone of working age and the proportion of mature aged Australian Apprentices aged over 45 years in training has increased 136 per cent since March 2000. Twelve per cent of all Australian Apprentices in training as at March 2006 are aged 45 or over.
Employers hiring an Australian Apprentice may be eligible for Australian and State Government incentives.
The Australian Government has established Australian Apprenticeships Centres as a single point of contact for much of the administration, sign-up and payment arrangements for employers and Australian Apprentices. Thirty organisations have been contracted to operate as Australian Apprenticeships Centres across every region throughout Australia.
For further information about Australian Apprenticeships please phone 13 38 73.
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