Thursday 2 August 2018

More Hunter Apprentices Attending TAFE

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Enrolments across the Hunter's TAFE locations are already on the rise, one month after free apprenticeship funding kicked in from the state government.

There's been a 15% spike in student numbers in the Hunter and Central Coast compared to the same time last year.

It comes after Treasurer Dominic Perrotet announced a $285 million investment over six years to finance the fees of 100,000 NSW apprentices - funding which kicked in on July 1.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald visited TAFE'S Maitland campus yesterday, saying there's high demand for vocational workers.

"There's a very good mood on campus," he said,"numbers are up - a very clear message I got from the visit is that trades are in demand because of all the infrastructure, commercial and residential developments going up."

Scot MacDonald meets TAFE staff and apprentices from the Painting program.