Apprenticeships aren't broken: government must stop trying to 'fix' them

A report released last year by NSW BVET was the most comprehensive study of apprentices and their employers ever undertaken in NSW. The key finding of the report was that the most influential factor as to whether a trainee or apprentice completes their training is the attitude of both the apprentice and their employer. It did not find that our apprenticeship system is broken and in need of yet another government led restructure.

What policymakers don't seem to understand is that non-completions of apprenticeships are caused by many factors and some industries see better completion rates than others. Apprentices may find that they're not suited to the job or the workplace, and find another job or something else to study. This is why pre-apprenticeship programs are so important, they give applicants a taste of industry so they can decide if it's for them or not.

It's not simply a matter of looking at the dollars government spends on training. Employers, schools, parents and the apprentices themselves all invest in the training contract.

Government can support the economy by encouraging and funding more people into skills and training. But it cannot change the attitudes and minds of those people undertaking that training no matter how frequently it tinkers with the system.