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Drought support to retain apprentices

11 March 2009

Employers in drought-affected rural areas of South Australia will shortly be invited to apply for State Government funding to help them retain their trainees and apprentices.

Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Michael O'Brien, says an additional $1.1 million is being made available for the Drought Apprenticeship Retention Program, as part of the State Government's ongoing commitment to assisting drought-affected communities.

"The State Government has an ongoing commitment to assist drought-affected communities and an important part of this is to help them retain their trainees and apprentices," he says.

"The retention of our trainees and apprentices in employment is not only important in ensuring their futures but is also central to ensuring the future wellbeing of the State and regional economies."

Minister O'Brien says this is the second year we are providing funding to employers in drought-affected areas who are finding it hard to find work for their young people.

"Last year, the program helped some 600 employers to retain about 1,000 trainees and apprentices in employment in drought affected areas."

The apprenticeship assistance initiative forms part of the State Government's $6 million drought assistance package announced earlier this year by the Agriculture Minister.

The package, which features a range of initiatives to help farming communities overcome problems associated with the extended drought, brought the State Government's staged commitment to the drought to $146 million.

It builds on the Australian Government's recent announcement that it will provide $155 million to encourage employers to take on trainees and apprentices and retain them during the challenges of the economic downturn.

Eligible employers from the high priority drought-affected areas of Eyre Peninsula and the River Murray Corridor can now apply for a total of $1,500 for each trainee and apprentice they retain through the drought period.

Payments will commence in March 2009 and will be offered in two payments of $750 for each six-month period that the employee is retained.

The State Government will be contacting all employers who are eligible to receive funds during March 2009 to invite them to apply.

Further information: www.employment.sa.gov.au/employ/pages/default/darp/  or contact the Drought Apprenticeship Retention Program on 1800 673 097.