SA Skills Act Commences Today!

Major reforms to the State’s skills system will come into effect today, 1 July, under the new South Australian Skills Act.

The skills reforms will make it easier for employers to hire apprentices and trainees and will support more apprentices and trainees to complete their qualifications, ready for future jobs.

The South Australian Business Chamber contributed to the extensive industry consultation on the changes and the subsequent reforms.

A key pillar of the new vocational education and training agenda is the establishment of a new South Australian Skills Commission that will oversee changes intended to make the skills system more flexible, easy to navigate and geared towards workforce needs.

Under the skills reforms, new South Australian Skills Regulations and associated Standards outline new processes and responsibilities for those involved in the system.
This includes:

• A streamlined employer registration process
• New requirements for supervising apprentices and trainees
• Changes to the declaration of trades and vocations to respond to industry need
• A simpler process to submit training contract applications
• A transfer fee for employers when taking on an apprentice partway through a training contract
• Greater powers for the Commission with regard to dispute resolution

For more information about what the changes mean for employers, apprentices and trainees, and for training organisations, visit the South Australian Skills Commission website at: www​.skillscom​mis​sion​.sa​.gov​.au