A Dean Winter Labor Government will put vocational education back at the centre of our education system, and value our apprentices and help them with the cost of living.

In addition to our plan for place-based roundtables to support students post-year 10, Labor will deliver much needed cost of living relief for apprentices and provide more opportunities for them to train.

A Labor Government will:

• Audit all VET facilities across colleges, secondary schools and training centres across the state
• Provide half price rego and increase the Student Travel Allowance for apprentices and trainees
• Attract more TAFE teachers with teacher scholarships
• Continue funding for the Hi Vis Army

Why we need it

After 11 years of the Liberals, trainees and apprentices are struggling with the cost of living and a lack of certainty for the sector.

There is a shortage of TAFE teachers and trainers and, after the Automotive Training Centre in Hobart was flooded, there are limited options to do automotive training without going up north.

The details

A Dean Winter Labor Government will:

• Provide 20 scholarships for new trades teachers at TAFE.
• Provide half-price rego for apprentices.
• Increase the Student Travel Allowance for apprentices, to $100 per night, and introduce a $40 per day meal allowance.
• Establish a program to support traineeship and apprenticeship opportunities in local government.
• Provide $450,000 to establish a new Automotive Training Facility in southern Tasmania.  Further, a Labor Government will work with key stakeholders, including the TACC and the Federal Government, to establish a Centre of Excellence for automatic, hydrogen and electric vehicles in the South.
• Conduct an audit of all VET facilities across colleges, secondary schools and trade training centres across the state, to identify gaps for upgrades.
• Continue the current funding for the Hi Vis Army and consider any further financial commitment to the program as part of the Budget process in Government.

These commitments build on Labor’s plan for a Fresh Start for Training and Education, to deliver local roundtables to identify and design tailored education pathways beyond Year 10.