Christopher's career thrown a lifeline by pilot program

Christopher’s search for a new apprentice employer proved difficult due to his stalled training progression, with his only option being a Trades Assistant, but the Pilot program has enabled him to make up for lost time and improve his chances of restarting his apprenticeship.
 

“Because my training hadn’t stayed up to date with my experience, I found that employers didn’t want to go near me as an apprentice candidate,” Mr Yakovlev said.
 

“Getting my training up to date with this program was the only option to get ready for a new employer to restart my apprenticeship with. I feel really lucky that this was available, and I’m glad to be continuing my training at the TAFE Queensland Acacia Ridge campus close to my house.”
 

“It was so simple to get enrolled into training in this program. I saw the ad on Facebook, called TAFE, and they made it easy. Now I’m enrolled for flexible training on Wednesday nights, which works well for me around my family and any work,” he said.
 

TAFE Queensland – SkillsTech General Manager Stephen Gates said Christopher’s story was a common one, and the Pilot program had the ability to ensure industries don’t lose out on apprentices who want to finish their trade and have long-lasting careers.
 

“We know that TAFE Queensland changes lives through training, and apprenticeships are a key example of this. An apprenticeship offers people from all walks of life a path into long-lasting, meaningful employment and lets them earn while they learn,” Mr Gates said.
 

“Often though, when employers are facing hard times, this is passed onto the apprentice and their training falls behind. When that employer is forced to close their doors, the apprentice can be left in limbo with a tough job search in front of them.”
 

“The Flexible Trade Training Delivery Pilot offers these apprentices the lifeline they need, enabling them to catch up or keep up with their study and successfully restart their apprenticeship with a new employer,” he said.
 

TAFE Queensland's Flexible Trade Training Delivery Pilot provides personalised support and funded flexible training to eligible carpentry, electrical, and plumbing apprentices with cancelled apprenticeship contracts, within the last 12 months and links them with new employers.

The Flexible Trade Training Delivery Pilot aims to re-engage cancelled Queensland apprentices in their training pathways, maintaining a strong pipeline of skilled workers in priority trades that play a critical role in powering our state’s economy for years to come.

The Pilot will support up to 240 apprentices at TAFE Queensland’s Acacia Ridge and Bracken Ridge campuses, with training fully funded through existing government support programs.

Improved Completions is a joint initiative between the Australian Government and Queensland Government.
 

Places are limited, and eligibility rules apply.