Businesses are set to benefit from an Australian Government initiative which is encouraging Australians to improve their work skills by providing vouchers to spend on training. The Australian Skills Vouchers Program provides Work Skills Vouchers, worth up to $3,000, and Business Skills Vouchers, worth up to $500.
By helping prospective employees access training through the voucher system, TAFE NSW is helping businesses save money on training as well as increasing the pool of qualified people who will be job-ready.
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Looking to take advantage of the Skills Voucher Program? |
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TAFE NSW can accept the vouchers for a range of courses. |
TAFE NSW is also assisting businesses with large numbers of unqualified employees (who meet the criteria of the program) to gain qualifications through the voucher incentives.
A new student at TAFE NSW – Riverina Institute, Coomealla Campus, is very pleased at the opportunity the Australian Skills Vouchers Program has given her. Paz Welsh wanted to start a business course in the past but life on a farm in a drought-ravaged area has kept her busy and away from study. The program has provided Ms Welsh with a Work Skills Voucher to spend on her training.
Barbara McIntyre, Head of Campus at Riverina Institute’s Coomealla Campus, said the program makes good business sense for employers and employees alike.
Ms Welsh is completing the Certificate II in Business course and will learn computing office skills such as invoicing, mailing and general office operations. She hopes to improve her knowledge and skills to find employment.
For employers eligible for financial support for mid-career apprentices or wanting to upskill their workforce through Incentives for Higher Technical Skills, TAFE NSW can work to develop a training solution in consultation with an Institute.
Australian Skills Vouchers Program
Work Skills Vouchers, worth up to $3,000, are available to Australians 25 years and over who do not have Year 12 or a Certificate level II qualification.
The vouchers will improve the basic skills of Australians currently in the workforce or those looking for work who do not have formal qualifications.
A Business Skills Voucher is worth up to $500 and is available to apprentices who have completed at least their second year of an apprenticeship or who have qualified for a trade within the past two years.
The aim is to assist apprentices to appreciate the long term benefits of running a business and the rate of return they may achieve from their training in the future if they own a small or medium size business.
A higher level of business skills will provide a stronger foundation for future success in self-employment, as well as making them more attractive to employers.
For information on how TAFE NSW can help your business benefit from the Skills Voucher Program, visit: www.tafensw.edu.au/news/skills_future.htm.
Australian Skills Vouchers is an Australian Government Initiative: www.australia.gov.au/skillsforthefuture.
