Youth Employment, Training and Apprenticeships a Focus at Council
Published on 10 December 2020
West Wimmera Shire Council is set to engage more young people within their workforce via Victorian and Federal Government funded apprenticeship and trainee employment schemes.
The schemes will assist with the appointment and accreditation of an automotive heavy diesel apprentice in Edenhope and a parks and gardens trainee in Kaniva.
The parks and gardens trainee will be funded through the Victorian Government Youth Employment Scheme (YES). The YES program fully funds traineeships for young people aged 15 to 24 to work in public service positions while completing their accreditation.
Council will receive funding for fifty percent of the wages cost for the automotive heavy diesel apprenticeship via the Federal Government “Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements’ wage subsidy program.
The automotive heavy diesel apprentice will complete a Certificate III in Automotive Heavy Diesel and the parks and gardens trainee will complete a Certificate III in Parks and Gardens.
The positions were advertised through Skillinvest, a regional employment and training organisation specialising in the administration of government funded youth employment schemes.
Applications have now closed for these positions and the selection process is well underway.
It is anticipated that the successful applicants for these positions will commence their training and employment early next year.
Current examples of successful workplace training at council include: a business administration trainee at Kaniva office who is nearing completion of their Certificate III in Business Administration, and an Edenhope works depot staff member who is now a fully qualified diesel mechanic after completing their apprenticeship.
Interim Chief Executive Officer, Paul Brumby, places a very high value on locally based youth employment and workplace training programs.
“Council has a long-standing reputation of supporting apprentices and trainees and we wish to continue doing so.
“We recognise that young job seekers often find it quite challenging to get a foot in the door and start their working life without prior experience or qualifications.
“We know these opportunities encourage young people to stay living local which in turn stimulates our local economy and often provides employers with a loyal, local employee as a result.
“It is wonderful to see both State and Federal Governments providing incentives for us and other employers to take on apprentices and trainees at a time when economic conditions are difficult.”
Expressions of interest in future apprenticeships and traineeships can be made with Janet Watt, Human Resource Manager on 13 99 72. Other employment opportunities are viewable at www.westwimmera.vic.gov.au/Council/Employment