CSQ Cuts Funding

For some time Construction Skills Queensland ("CSQ") funds have been provided to pay for 50% of the Student Co-contribution Fee to students entering an apprenticeship or traineeship.

The CEO of CSQ, Brett Schimming recently announced that CSQ is not continuing funding for various programs. THE Construction Skills Queensland 2015-16 Annual Training Plan (the "ATP") has recently been approved by the Minister for Training and Skills and will see a total of $33.5 million made available to support building and construction training and workforce development in 2015-16. With the available funding, CSQ will be taking a more strategic focus to ensure funds are invested in a way that continue to service the building and construction sector's priority training and skilling needs.

A decision has been made that some programs that have been previously funded by CSQ will not be continuing under the ATP. One such program is the Student Contribution Fee program. Student Contribution Fee Participation will subsequently come to an end as of 30 September 2015.

All current eligible apprentices and trainees with a training start date before 1 October 2015 will continue to receive the CSQ contribution to their tuition fee.

For more information, employers can contact CSQ by email: info@csq.org.au or telephone: 1800 798 488.



Funded Business and Administration Qualifications

 

Your Administrative team can now get qualified through the Certificate 3 Guarantee funding program.

The qualifications below have Queensland Government funding through the Certificate 3 Guarantee program*. The Certificate 3 Guarantee program allows individuals to attain qualifications without the involvement or dependence off the employer, and can be completed outside of work (online).

BSB30115 Certificate III in Business

• ideal for Customer Service Advisor, Data Entry Operator, General Clerk, Payroll Officer, Typist, Word Processing Operator

BSB30415 Certificate III in Business Administration 

• ideal for Clerks (Accounts receivable / payable), Data Entry Operators, Junior Personal Assistant, Receptionist, Office Administrator/Assistant, Word Processing Operator

BSB30215 Certificate III in Customer Engagement

• ideal for Customer Service Office (call centre personnel)

BSB40415 Certificate IV in Small Business Management 

• ideal for Managers, Business Owners

FNS40215 Certificate IV in Bookkeeping 

• ideal for Bookkeeper, BAS consultant

What is the Certificate 3 Guarantee?
A core element of the Queensland Government's Working Queensland jobs plan is ensuring Queenslanders have access to quality training programs that deliver effective skills to meet employment and business demands. Read more here: Certificate 3 Guarantee

To be eligible to enrol in the Certificate 3 Guarantee, prospective students must:

• be aged 15 years or above, and no longer at school

• permanently reside in Queensland

• be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident (includes humanitarian entrant), temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency, or a New Zealand citizen

• not hold, and not be enrolled in, a certificate III or higher level qualification, not including qualifications completed at school and foundation skills training.

DELIVERY – Online learning platform and a trainer allocated to each student. Hard copies can be used if students prefer.

COMPLETION – Approx. 3-6 months depending on the individual’s existing experience (RPL) and pace.

FEES - There is a student co-contribution fee of $10 per unit payable upon completion of each unit. The number of units vary but the most would be 13 units in total.

Contact us on 0409 879 111 or info@trainingup.com.au for more information.

*Funding available from the Queensland Govt under the Certificate 3 Guarantee Program. Eligibility conditions apply.

Apprenticeship Support for Employers and Apprentices

 

In a recent media release from Senator Simon Birmingham announced that Australian apprentices, people interested in an apprenticeship, and their employers will be able to get more help, from more locations, than ever before with start of the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (Apprenticeship Network).

Assistant Minister for Education and Training Senator Simon Birmingham said the new Apprenticeship Network was the biggest reform to apprenticeship support in more than two decades.

“The Australian Government is investing up to $200 million annually in the Apprenticeship Network, which will help to recruit, train and retain more than 300,000 apprentices and trainees a year in more than 420 locations nationwide,” Senator Birmingham said.

“The Apprenticeship Network is particularly designed to help lift apprenticeship completion rates, which were unacceptably low at around 50 per cent throughout Labor’s term in office.”

Apprenticeship Network providers will target support services to the individual needs of employers and apprentices, from pre-commencement to completion, including:

• new pre-commencement services that will match the right apprentice with the right apprenticeship and the right employer;
• new in-training assistance, including mentoring, that will help apprentices at-risk of non-completion, and employers, to work through obstacles; and
• new assistance for those who may be unsuited to an apprenticeship to identify an alternative pathway.

The Apprenticeship Network is part of the Australian Government’s significant reform of apprenticeship support, which includes Trade Support Loans of up to $20,000 each to help apprentices with the costs of living and tools while undertaking an apprenticeship, and providing financial incentives to around 80,000 employers of apprentices each year.

“The Australian Government is making it easier for people to become an apprentice and for businesses to employ apprentices,” Senator Birmingham said.

“Apprenticeships are proven earning and learning pathways, and provide Australia’s workforce with the skills needed to grow our economy and make it more competitive and productive.

“The Apprenticeship Network is part of the Australian Government’s reforms to ensure vocational education and training (VET) provides real skills for real jobs, to lift the quality of skills training, and to raise the status of apprenticeships and skills training as a pathway to a rewarding and highly-valued career.”

For more information on the Apprenticeship Network, visit: www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au or call the referral line on 13 38 73.

Payroll Tax Incentives Following New Laws

 

Queensland businesses are being encouraged to employ apprentices and trainees so they can access payroll tax incentives following new laws passed in State Parliament last week. Treasurer Curtis Pitt said the Palaszczuk Government’s new payroll tax rebate would help kick start jobs and growth by giving businesses that employ apprentices and trainees a financial incentive.

Mr Pitt said that under the laws, employers who hire new apprentices or trainees will get a 25 per cent payroll tax rebate on the payroll tax of another worker. He said the rebate was expected to save Queensland businesses $45 million over three years.
“Apprentice and trainee wages are already exempt from payroll tax and Queensland already has the most generous payroll tax threshold of the mainland states as well as the lowest payroll tax rates in the country, Mr Pitt said. This new rebate takes that a step further.

The new rebate, available from 1 July 2015, will apply to payroll tax for the 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 financial years.

The Office of State Revenue website has not been updated to reflect this change at the present time but will be updated  by 1 July  https://www.osr.qld.gov.au/payroll-tax/exemp-reb-payroll-tax/2009-2010-apprentice-trainee-rebate.shtml 

Cert III in Landscape Construction Now Funded Through Certificate 3 Guarantee

Are you a skilled landscaper but not qualified?

 

If you have the experience, you deserve the qualification! Get your landscaping skills recognised in weeks, and without any classroom study. You've already done the hard work, now's the time to get your reward!

 

Right now the Queensland State Government is funding Cert III Landscape Construction and Cert III Park and Gardens . If you are working in the landscaping industry but don't have your certificate, now is the best time to get it. All skilled workers will have their Recognised Prior Learning assessed.

 

Did you know that this Cert III includes two machine tickets?

 

Example;

• Skid Steer Operations
• Excavator Operations

For a person to be eligible they only need to fit the following criteria;

·         Australian citizen/permanent resident or NZ citizen

·         Permanently reside in Queensland

·         15 years or older

·         No longer at school

·         Not currently enrolled in or previously completed a Cert III (or higher) qualification. (Note: Cert IIIs completed at school are not counted).
 

To secure your Certificate III in Landscape Construction whilst funded contact Brendan McGill today on 0409 879 111.

There is a co-contribution fee ($20 concessional and $40 non-concessional fee.

To read more about the Certificate 3 Guarantee Government initiative go to http://www.training.qld.gov.au/training-organisations/funded-programs/certificate3/index.html

#landscapeconstruction #landscape #landscaping

Hire an Apprentice or Trainee, get a Payroll Tax Rebate

Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt said the Palaszczuk Government was wasting no time on delivering its promises to encourage bosses to hire apprentices or trainees.

Speaking at the Queensland Media Club on the 18h March, Mr Pitt said the government was focused on delivering its commitments, to increase both employment and participation in the economy.

“We’re hitting the ground running to ensure we deliver for Queenslanders,” Mr Pitt said.

“During the first sitting of parliament we will introduce a bill to change the Payroll Tax Act so we can deliver our commitment to deliver a payroll tax rebate for employers when they hire an apprentice or trainee.

“Our pledge of $45 million in payroll tax rebates will encourage employers to take on apprentices and trainees.

“Our commitment is to provide a 25% rebate on the payroll tax on the wages of another employee when bosses hire an apprentice or trainee.

“This will encourage greater participation and give young people a foot in the door when youth unemployment remains stubbornly high.”

Mr Pitt said the ABS Labour Force numbers released last Thursday showed the state’s trend unemployment rate at 6.5% and the latest available data put youth unemployment at 14%.

“The number of unemployed has risen 30,300 since March 2012,” he said.

“Limited job opportunities have discouraged new entrants into the labour market, with the trend participation rate at 65.3% in February.

“That’s why we are acting quickly to implement our agenda to support jobs.

“We will see a direct employment benefit as a result of our payroll tax rebate policy. Queenslanders are one of our state’s greatest resources.

“We can harness this resource by setting the right policies for business and industry to create secure jobs and training opportunities.

“Queensland already has the most generous payroll tax thresholds in mainland Australia and the lowest payroll tax rates in the country.”
#payrolltax #rebate #exemption

Australian Apprenticeships Incentives

The objective of the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme is to contribute to the development of a highly skilled and relevant Australian workforce that supports economic sustainability and competitiveness.

This is achieved by:

·         providing genuine opportunities for skills-based training and development of employees by providing incentives to employers who employ eligible Australian Apprentices; and

·         encouraging people to enter into skills-based training through an Australian Apprenticeship by providing personal benefits.

The Programme contains a range of employer incentives and personal benefits which are detailed below.

Payment of incentives and personal benefits is subject to employers and Australian Apprentices satisfying eligibility criteria as set out in the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme Guidelines.

Incentives

Employer incentives

There are a number of incentives currently available to eligible employers of Australian Apprentices. Each incentive payment has a number of eligibility criteria that will be assessed by an Australian Apprenticeship Centre.

Current incentives:

·         Commencement incentives

·         Recommencement incentives

·         Completion incentives

·         Rural and Regional Skills Shortage Incentive

·         Declared Drought Area Incentives

·         Mature Aged Workers Incentives

·         Australian School-based Apprenticeship Incentive

·         Assistance for Australian Apprentices with Disability

·         Support for Adult Australian Apprentices

More detailed information is available in the Summary of the Australian Government Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme information sheets.

 

Personal benefits for Australian Apprentices

There are a number of personal benefit payments available to Australian Apprentices.

Each personal benefit payment has a number of eligibility criteria that will be assessed by an Australian Apprenticeship Centre.

Current personal benefits:

·         Living Away from Home Allowance

·         Support for Adult Australian Apprentices (please note the apprentice payment of Support for Adult Australian Apprentices will cease from 1 July 2015)

More detailed information is available in the Summary of the Australian Government Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme information sheets.

 

Trade Support Loans

In order to support Australian Apprentices and help them to meet everyday costs whilst they undertake their training, eligible apprentices will be able to apply for Trade Support Loans. These loans provide up to $20,000 worth of income contingent loans and are paid monthly in arrears.

Apprentices will not have to repay the loans until they are earning an income above the minimum repayment threshold. In order to maintain the real value of the loans, the loan amount will be indexed according to the Consumer Price Index.

Apprentices who successfully complete their apprenticeship will receive a 20% discount on their loan amount.

National Skills Needs List

The National Skills Needs List identifies trades that are deemed to be in national skill shortage.

The National Skills Needs List is used to determine eligibility for the following employer incentives and personal benefits available under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme:

·         Rural and Regional Skills Shortage incentive; and

·         Support for Adult Australian Apprentices.

You can download a copy of the National Skills Needs List.