The first JobTrainer placements will be available at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) from next month, following a joint ACT and Federal Government initiative for free VET courses and training amid the pandemic.
A total of $16.75 million was committed from the governments, targeting school leavers and work seekers to provide job ready skills.
CIT will be delivering about 1,300 places through the JobTrainer initiative, including full qualifications and pre-apprenticeships, as well as free online shorter courses for ACT residents.
“The first of the JobTrainer placements at CIT will be made available from October this year with the majority of the places commencing in semester 1, 2021,” a CIT spokesperson said.
“It is expected that all places will have commenced by September 2021.”
In total, JobTrainer is set to deliver 3,500 additional training places in the Territory across sectors including community services, healthcare and hospitality.
“CIT will be engaging with the community, individuals and through networks to ensure the availability of the places is well known,” the spokesperson said.
“Students will access these places via CIT’s established enquiry and enrolment processes.
“These qualifications will be delivered through face-to-face coursework, online learning, virtual classrooms, and a combination of the two.”
The spokesperson said the education facility had seen a “slight downturn” in enrolments amid the pandemic.
ACT Tertiary Education Minister Chris Steel said it was clear the pandemic had hit young people, with this program addressing the 11,000 Canberrans currently out of work.
“Young people have been hit hard by COVID-19, with many of those leaving school unsure about what the future holds,” he said.
“This free training will help young people to get the skills they need to get into a job.”
The JobTrainer package was announced by the Federal Government in mid-July, at a cost of $1billion in collaboration with state and territory governments.
The CIT spokesperson said the courses provided will benefit the local economy.
“These areas are of critical importance to ACT economy and employers in the current COVID-19 pandemic and as we move into economic recovery,” they said.
“Students will be learning vital and transferable skills that will improve employment opportunities, now and into the future.”
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