BIA Victoria -
General News
Work Skills for the future program
Sunday, 19 November 2006
WORK SKILLS VOUCHERSDescription
From 1 January 2007, Australians aged 25 years and over who do not have Year 12 or equivalent will be eligible for Work Skills vouchers to help them improve their qualifi cations. The vouchers will be worth up to $3,000.
Each year 30,000 vouchers will be available.
The vouchers can be used in TAFEs, private or community colleges. They may be used for all accredited literacy/numeracy and basic education courses and all vocational Certificate II courses.
Some examples of courses where the vouchers could be used are:
- Certificate II in Adult General Education
- Certificate II in Automotive (Mechanical - Vehicle Servicing)
- Certificate II in Community Services (Children’s Services); and
- Certificate II in Hospitality (Commercial Cookery)
This measure will improve the basic skills of the Australian workforce and assist those without Year 12 or equivalent or Certificate II qualifications. Improvements in basic skills will help people who are already in employment to move into higher level positions and assist those who are looking for work to find jobs.
Who will benefit?
Australians aged 25 years and over without Year 12 or equivalent or Certificate II qualifications will be the beneficiaries.
Priority will be given to applicants in the following order:
Unskilled workers wishing to acquire qualifications; income support recipients, such as parents and carers returning to the workforce, who will face active job search requirements in the next two years; unemployed job seekers in receipt of income support and participating in the Job Network who are undertaking active job search; and people not in the labour force, either voluntarily or because of carer responsibilities, who intend to seek work after achieving their qualification.
For more information download Work Skills Voucher Fact Sheet
Source: www.pm.gov.au October 20 2006