The National Apprentice Employment Network (NAEN) has welcomed the appointment of ministers who will oversee the key skills and training responsibilities under the re-elected Morrison government. The National Executive Officer of NAEN, Dianne Dayhew congratulated Mr Dan Tehan on his reappointment as Minister for Education, and Senator Michaelia Cash on her appointment as the new Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business. She also congratulated the new Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships, Mr Steve Irons.
“It makes good sense to see responsibility for apprenticeships aligned with employment and small business, especially for the group training sector, which is the country’s largest employer of apprentices and trainees, with a particular focus on the SME sector.
“It is also refreshing and extremely welcome to have a former apprentice appointed to the ministry with responsibility for training and apprenticeships.
“As a former electrical apprentice and small business owner, Mr Irons is ideally placed to understand the challenges and the great opportunities that are involved in both being an apprentice and an employer of apprentices and trainees,” Ms Dayhew said.
We look forward to meeting shortly with Mr Irons and working with him to assist the government in implementing important VET policies that were outlined in the Budget and during the election campaign. We also look forward to working with Ministers Cash and Tehan as the government undertakes wider reform of the VET sector following the Expert Review of VET conducted by Mr Steven Joyce.
The Joyce Review and the government’s VET initiatives have the potential to substantially lift the uptake of apprentices and trainees and help to engage many more school leavers with the opportunities available through a VET pathway. NAEN also congratulates the new Minister for Indigenous Australians, Mr Ken Wyatt on his historic appointment as the first Indigenous Cabinet minister, together with the creation of the new National Indigenous Australians Agency attached to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The establishment of a Minister for Government Services under Mr Stuart Robert is also a positive step that recognises the importance of integrating service delivery across departments and agencies, and NAEN congratulates Mr Robert on his appointment.
Media Contact: Bob Bowden, Ph 0412 753 298 bbowden@bowmac.com.au
