State Labor Commits to Bring Manufacturing Back to The Hunter

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A Domestic Manufacturing Centre of Excellence could be on the cards for The Hunter if Labor wins the state election.  

NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns, was joined by Shadow Minister for Transport Jo Haylen, local MPs Tim Crakanthorp, Sonia Hornery, Yasmin Catley, and Jodie Harrison, and Candidate for Lake Macquarie Stephen Ryan, for the announcement at Downer EDI's Glendale factory this morning.  

$42.7 million has been pledged, to help develop three advanced manufacturing centres of excellence in NSW, including one in the Hunter. 

The party plans to bring bus, rail and ferry manufacturing back to the region, whilst giving TAFE a much-needed boost, and providing a new fleet of local jobs following the closure of power stations and other local manufacturing enterprises. 

Chris Minns said manufacturing done overseas has proven costly and ineffective long-term. 

"There is a proud tradition of train building in the Hunter; it's been happening in this region for over 100 years. I firmly believe that Australians are world-leaders when it comes to engineering and manufacturing," Mr Minns said. 

"My message to the voters of NSW is clear; we can build trains in NSW, but it does require a change of government. We're going to the people of NSW with a changed direction. We recognise this is a big undertaking, as there hasn't been a government in this state for a decade that wants to buy local and back local, and it means we do need to have an investment in vocational training."

The Labor Leader didn't confirm how new manufacturing works will be paid for, but said the Opposition was opposed to more privatisation in the sector.

Hunter Apprentices Given Federal Funding Boost

BY OLIVIA DILLON 

The Federal Government has provided more assistance for apprentices and employers across the Hunter and the country. 

It comes in repose to significant skills gaps across the region, with recent data showing 47% of trade and technician occupations are in shortage, up from 42% in 2021. 

Under the new scheme, the Australian Apprenticeship Priority List has been expanded, giving more occupations access to government funding. 

It's been expanded from 77 to 111, to include occupations like vet nurses, travel consultants and swimming coaches, in addition to traditional trades. 

It will provide a wage subsidy of up to $15,000 to be claimed by employers in the region, and $5000 will be given directly to eligible apprentices. 

Federal Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi, says holes in Hunter industries need to be plugged. 

"It's a big problem in the Hunter currently," he said. 

Calls for TAFE to Resume Online Learning, With Hunter Apprentices Forced to Travel to Sydney

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Hunter business owners are calling on TAFE NSW to revert back to online learning for their apprentices, who are currently required to travel to Sydney to conduct some of their studies.

Hunter New England Health Officials have issued a warning to locals not to travel to the city unless absolutely necessary amid concerns about the further spread of COVID-19.

Branden-Lee Woseen is an apprentice at 'Classic Motorcycle Restoration' in Gateshead, with his course run in a specialized building in Sydney, which not available at the local Hunter TAFE.

During the initial stages of the pandemic he moved to online learning to carry out his studies.

He says on June 24th, TAFE began to return to face to face classes in Ultimo, Sydney, a move Mr Woseen says he understands.

"Online learning wasn't too effective because my course is very hands on, so once it died down we started classes of eight, and now we're back to larger class sizes."

However Mr Woseen says he would now like to see classes move back online, as the number of Covid-19 cases in Sydney begins to rise.

"TAFE said they were monitoring the situation, with the majority the of people in my class from Sydney." 

17 new cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed in NSW on Monday, mostly linked to clusters in the city.

Mr Woseen's boss, Graeme Studdert says he required his apprentice to under go a Covid-19 test, and receive a negative result before he was allowed to return to work this week.

"You know I'm in a high risk area, I'm in my 60's and two of my other men, ones 67 and ones 63, we're all taking medication of some sort, so we're potentially in a high risk area and I just don't want to take the chance."

Owner of Brisan's Motorcycles in Islington, Nick Stevens, has 6 or 7 apprentices currently travelling down to Sydney for their studies, and is also calling for a return to online learning.

He says apprentices shouldn't be sent into high risk areas unless absolutely necessary.

"They have been doing some lessons remotely leading up to now and its unprecedented times, I cant see why they cant continue to do the same until we've got the all clear."

"We're certainly not forcing our apprentices to go to TAFE, we're just going to advise them to contact their teachers, and at this stage make their own decisions in terms of whether they'd like to go."

"But from a business stand point we're not really comfortable with them going to Sydney and potentially coming back and infecting other staff."

TAFE NSW is yet to provide a comment.

Image Credit: Sydney Morning Herald

Hunter Business Chamber Calls on Government to Offer More Support for Apprenticeships

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter Business Chamber and Business NSW are calling on the Government to offer immediate support to employers struggling to provide apprenticeships and work opportunities for young people across the Hunter Region and New South Wales.

A recent report produced by Business NSW suggests the national apprenticeship intake for 2020 will fall to 151,000 from 97,000 last year, a decline of more than 30 per cent.

Hunter Business Chamber CEO Bob Hawes says 54,000 individuals are likely to miss out on crucial opportunities to upskill, reskill, or find a job, while thousands of businesses will also lose out on the chance for valuable employees.

"If this continues, not only are we working off a low base to restore apprenticeship and traineeship numbers, but we'll be looking at a significant skills gap in four to five years time," Mr Hawes said.

The Skilling Australia for a better future report recommends an industry-supported pre-apprenticeship program and subsidies for Group Training Organisations will be necessary to help the sector recover from such a decline.

"There needs to be consistency and significant improvement in the funding so that businesses don't baulk at taking on apprentices and trainees when they have that opportunity," Mr Hawes said.

"We know that's happening, and it shouldn't happen, given the tremendous advantages of having trainees and apprentices come through our school system in the trades in which they traditionally operate."

Despite the recent shock faced by the entire economy, Mr Hawes says the decline speaks to wider issues which existed before COVID-19 and have only been exacerbated by the pandemic.

"It's not just about the wishes of the guys and the girls that want to go into those sorts of opportunities," Mr Hawes said. "It's about businesses being able to provide them with opportunities and the education system being able to point them in that direction."