New program a relief for students

Emmaus Catholic College Vice Captain and Colyton resident Chantelle Gordon.

The Federal Government’s new $2 billion JobTrainer skills package is yet another puzzle piece in the country’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new $1 billion JobTrainer program will provide 340,700 places from September for free or low cost vocational training courses available for graduating students and those who have found themselves without work as a result of the pandemic.

The Federal Government will provide $500 million, with matched contributions from state and territory governments. The other half of the package will go towards extending wage subsidies for currently employed apprentices and trainees.

Emmaus Catholic College Principal Robert Nastasi said the announcement of the JobTrainer program came as a huge relief to many of the year 12 students at the school.

“There’s a lot of anxiety amongst them already, so essentially it is a bit of security to break that anxiety to know that there is a pathway for them,” he said.

“We get a lot of students with early entry to university but this is like an early entry for trades and nursing for those who don’t want to go to university.”

Vice Captain and Colyton resident Chantelle Gordon was recently named a finalist in the schools category of the 2020 NSW Training Awards.

She is a huge advocate for VET subjects in schools and said the scheme alleviates the pressure on students after a stressful final year.

“We have a lot of support from our teachers and from our families and friends; everyone’s really feeling for us,” she said. “I think this JobTrainer scheme just really shows that the government cares about us and that people are thinking of us.” Ms Gordon said having this security takes the stress off those who don’t want to attend university.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the JobTrainer package was focused on getting people into jobs.

“JobTrainer will ensure more Australians have the chance to reskill or upskill to fill the jobs on the other side of this crisis,” he said.

“The jobs and skills we’ll need as we come out of the crisis are not likely to be the same as those that were lost.”

Learn more about Emmaus Catholic College Kemps Creek