CRITICAL SKILLS FUND

In reply to Mr PISONI (Unley) (26 June 2012).

The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland—Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Recreation and Sport): The qualifications that have been identified as critical skills are contained within the Critical Skills List.

Organisations, other than group training organisations, that employ apprentices or trainees in a qualification on the Critical Skills List, who complete their training contract on or after 1 July 2012 will be eligible for a completion payment of $4,000.

The Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST) will notify eligible employers of the completion payment when they commence an apprentice or trainee whose training is in a critical skills qualification.

DFEEST will also advise the employer, in writing, when an eligible completion occurs and invite the employer to submit an application form for the completion payment.

The list of critical skills will be reviewed annually to ensure that the qualifications within it remain relevant to the needs of the State.

The guidelines for the Critical Skills Fund, which contains the Critical Skills List, are available on the Skills for All website at www.skills.sa.gov.au.