Hunter leads regional NSW in public sector apprentice and trainee intake

newy.com.au – The Hunter and Central Coast has recorded the highest regional participation in a NSW Government program that has added 1000 apprentices and trainees across the public sector.

The Minns Government says it has met its election commitment to employ the extra workers, with more than half of the cohort based in regional NSW. The program is aimed at addressing skills shortages in essential services while creating paid career pathways closer to home.

Across NSW, the apprentices and trainees are working in areas including electrotechnology, civil construction, plumbing, health services, IT and early childhood education. More than three-quarters of the roles are aligned with critical skills needs such as construction and infrastructure, net zero and energy transition, healthcare, digital and advanced manufacturing.

Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains recorded the largest overall share, with 270 apprentices and trainees. Among regional areas, the Hunter and Central Coast led participation with 114, followed by the North Coast and Mid North Coast with 110, Western NSW with 109, the Riverina with 96, Illawarra and South East NSW with 96, and New England with 56.

Women account for 45 per cent of the cohort, with the government saying the figure reflects growing participation in apprenticeships and traineeships across a broader range of industries.

Premier Chris Minns said the milestone was part of the government’s broader push to strengthen vocational education.

“Before we came to government, we said we wanted to give young people more opportunities to learn new skills and get good paying jobs. Today’s milestone shows we are making progress.

“When we came to government, we inherited a skills crisis after more than a decade of cuts and neglect.  

“This is just one step along the path to boosting the value of vocational education and rebuilding TAFE.”

Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Minister Steve Whan said the commitment had now been delivered.

“We said we would employ an extra 1000 apprentices and trainees and we’ve delivered. 

“More than three quarters of these roles are aligned to critical skills areas including construction and infrastructure, net zero and energy transition, healthcare, digital, and advanced manufacturing. 

“These are real jobs, real skills and real career pathways helping build the workforce NSW needs now and into the future.”

The government has linked the apprenticeship and traineeship program with its wider vocational education agenda, including rebuilding TAFE NSW, establishing three TAFE Manufacturing Centres of Excellence, providing long-term funding certainty for TAFE NSW and undertaking the first comprehensive review of the VET sector in more than a decade.