Mount Gambier’s Group Training Employment has seen an influx of apprentices in recent times, with record numbers since May last year.
Group Training Employment General Manager Greg Megaw said the agency had consistently received numbers of 300 or more.
“We normally fluctuate between 180 to 220 apprentices as an average over the past 10 years, but it’s risen to 300-plus since May,” he said.
Mr Megaw said GTE saw similar numbers in 2010 when they were consistently receiving around 250 to 260 apprentice trainees due to the “Building the Education Revolution”.
Mr Megaw said numbers had proportionally increased in all sectors.
“Each sector has gone up predominantly the same amount, it has not been one especially that’s gone up significantly,” he said.
Mr Megaw believed the increase was due to generous state and federal funding schemes for apprentices and trainees over the past 12 to 18 months and the large number of infrastructure projects in the Limestone Coast.
He also said it was due to Mount Gambier being relatively untouched by COVID compared to other areas.
“I think those three things combined are probably the reasons why we have seen so many numbers and so much positivity as far as that goes,” he said.
“We’re just happy to be able to support our community with employing so many people within it, and especially the young, but in general just our whole community.”
Mr Megaw encouraged people interested in pursuing an apprenticeship or traineeship to register at GTE because there were some great opportunities.
He said adults could also apply and they had employed a significant number of people over 21.
Mr Megaw said the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) funding would finish at the end of March, so he encouraged potential employers wanting to put on an apprentice or trainee to access those funding streams.
The BAC funding includes a 50% reimbursement on the apprentice’s gross wage for the 12-month period, paid in arrears at three-monthly intervals, capped at $7000 per month.
There is the potential to receive up to $37,000 in funding over the three years of the apprenticeship or traineeship. and Marketing in Adelaide next year.
On the job experience prepares teen for further study
Administration trainee Caitlin Letizia is currently completing her Certificate III in Business at GTE.
Ms Letizia said she chose to undertake the course because she intends to study business in design and marketing in Adelaide next year.
She began her gap year traineeship at the start of November last year and said she was enjoying her role, which she said would prepare her for university and the future.
Ms Letizia works at the front desk at GTE.
Her role involves tasks such as working with the new starters through GTE as well as those completing the process, PPE invoices and purchase orders, mail, photocopying and printing.
“Bit by bit I have been learning more jobs,” Ms Letizia said.
“As part of my traineeship, I’m through Limestone Coast Training as well.
“So I do 12 units over 18 months, but I’ll be shortened to 12 months because of uni.”
