Some of the State’s leading apprentices and trainees will sit down with NSW Skills Minister Steve Whan to share their views on how to improve the apprenticeship and traineeship system.
The Vocational Education and Training (VET) Ambassadors will travel to Dapto for a roundtable to provide feedback as part of the NSW Government’s Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act Review.
The Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act Review is part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to address skill shortages and a key action under the NSW Skills Plan.
It aims to strengthen the apprenticeship and traineeship system by making it easier to navigate and better matched to the real-world needs of priority industries like construction, care and support, technology, and clean energy.
Today’s event involves conversations with past winners and finalists from the NSW Training Awards who represent diverse industries including engineering, health, hospitality, education, and construction.
They also represent school-based apprentices and trainees (SBATs), women in trades and regional apprentices and trainees.
The VET Ambassadors will talk about their experiences as apprentices, trainees, students, and trainers in a facilitated discussion and Q&A session, offering insights into what works well in the system and where improvements could be made.
Their feedback will help to make the system simpler, fairer, and more effective.
More than 8,000 survey responses have already been received, with emerging insights pointing to the importance of consistent workplace support, stronger awareness of learner entitlements, and streamlined processes to lift completion rates.
The Dapto consultation is one of several events being held across the state as part of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act Review, to help ensure that reforms are shaped by the people who know and use the system.
Kiama MP Katelin McInerney said, “Hearing from our apprentices and trainees isn’t just good practice, it’s essential for our future.
“These are the skilled workers who will build the infrastructure our region needs and deliver the health services our communities depend on. Their insights today shape the quality of essential services tomorrow.”
