Continuing Workforce Education

The Benefits of Continuing Training for Existing Employees

Employers in the Information and Telecommunications Technology Industry in New South Wales are very aware that if they are to meet the challenges of

• rapidly changing technology
• increasing regulation and compliance
• maintaining productivity
• an ageing telecommunications workforce

they will only be successful if their employees are trained and skilled to perform effectively in the workplace. Both the Commonwealth and NSW Governments are also aware of these impacts on industry and the need for continuing training of existing employees and have available assistance to those employers who request it.

The first step in the process is identifying what skills training is needed by existing employees so that they can cope with evolving technology, successfully work with regulations, multi skill to minimise the impact of an ageing workforce and maintain workplace productivity to secure the financial viability of their organisation.

There are a number of current initiatives developed by the Commonwealth and NSW governments to assist employers who have identified the need to commence a program of skills training for existing employees. The following have been selected for employer review

Existing worker traineeships (Australian Apprenticeships)

These are administered as per Australian Apprenticeships (see Benefits of Employing an Australian Apprentice)

Existing worker traineeships normally commence at Certificate IV.

Traineeships in the Information and Telecommunications Technology Industry in NSW.  

Strategic Skills Program (SSP)

This program is administered by the NSW Government and caters for eligible existing workers to undertake training in full or part vocational qualifications. F 

National Workforce Development Fund (NWDF)

his program is funded by the Commonwealth Government and administered by Skills Councils in the case of Financial and Insurance Services it is Innovation and Business Skills Australia.