IN TODAY'S PAPER.....
Empowering Our Civil Apprentices: An Urgent Call for Recognition and Support

As South Australia propels itself into an era of unprecedented infrastructure development, with projects like the "1000 new homes," Osborne shipbuilding facilities, Torrens to Darlington Tunnels, Women’s and Children Hospital, and the hydrogen plant on the horizon, a crucial question demands our attention.

How can we achieve these projects and the monumental task of delivering $24 billion worth of infrastructure projects in this state when the Federal Government overlooks civil apprenticeships in its Priority Occupations List, despite them being listed on the Skills Priority List?

These vital roles lack the recognition and support needed to secure our industry's future workforce.

The civil sector is the unsung hero of the construction and resource industry, and although we may not enjoy the same level of recognition as our counterparts in the building sector, our skilled professionals play a critical role to ensure services are available to all South Australians to enhance the wellbeing of our communities. Yet, as our workforce ages faster than new entrants join, a looming retirement cliff threatens to leave essential roles unfilled.

On 1 January this year the Australian Apprenticeship Priority List was released. This list identifies occupations that will receive government support.

Once again, the Civil Trades were excluded.

Nineteen new occupations were added to the 100 plus list to receive the generous government support.

The Australian Government says “an eligible full-time apprentice may receive up to $10,000 over the duration of their apprenticeship to help with cost of living pressures, while an employer may receive support of up to $15,000 over the duration of the apprenticeship.”

The omission of Civil Trades provides an additional obstacle to our skills pipeline, despite several civil occupations being listed on the Skills Priority List.

The civil Industry lays the foundation for the services and assets most of us take for granted. Every time you travel by road, rail, plane, or boat or visit a hospital, hotel or drink water, turn on a light, or use gas, the civil sector has been the primary industry undertaking this work and these services and assets couldn’t exist without us.

As the Executive Director of a Group Training Organisation that employs 65 full-time civil apprentices in this state, I witness the daily challenges faced by both the apprentices and the businesses who support them.

As eligible full-time civil apprentices, a number of obstacles entering our industry would be alleviated, and we would be able to get on with business and deliver these projects for the betterment of all South Australians.

If picture framers, swimming instructors and gymnastics coaches (respectfully) can make the list – I’m unclear why civil apprenticeships can’t.

If the Hon Brendan O’Connor MP knows something about skilling our industry that I don’t, I’d be keen to know, because from my point-of-view, it’s madness.

I hope sense will prevail as the time is now to support our civil construction trade occupations.

Rebecca Pickering, CEO
Civil Contractors Federation SA & Executive Director Civil Apprenticeships and Careers Ltd

Reference for quote "2024 Australian Apprenticeship Priority List | Ministers' Media Centre (dewr.gov.au)”