Mr Clare made the announcement whilst meeting with first year building apprentices at Co-Wyn Building Contractors, a third generation family business based in Bankstown.
Mark Cohen welcomed the announcement and said that Co-Wyn would be looking to put on more apprentices over summer.
As Parliamentary Secretary for Employment, Mr Clare has been on the road with Bill Kelty and Lindsay Fox for the last few months talking to employers around the country.
Mr Clare said, “Everywhere we went employers told us the same thing – they need more help to put new apprentices on. I checked the data and they were right. In the last 12 months there has been a big drop in the number of young people starting apprenticeships. This year 10,000 fewer young people started an apprenticeship than last year.
“That’s why we recommended the Government triple the bonus that employers get if they put on a young apprentice this summer from $1,500 to $4,850,” Mr Clare said.
Apprentice Kickstart will help employ 21,000 new apprentices in traditional trades this summer – butchers, bakers, bricklayers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, hairdressers and pastry cooks and many other trades.
“I put this plan together because I think it will help a lot of young people in Bankstown. Teenage full time unemployment is higher in Bankstown than anywhere else in the country – 47.7 percent. If some of these young people get one of these apprenticeships it will change their lives,” Mr Clare said.
Apprentice Kickstart is available to employers who take on an apprentice in a traditional trade, aged between15 to19, from 1 December 2009 until 21,000 apprenticeships are filled.
“My message to local employers is if you are thinking about hiring an apprentice, take advantage of this bonus and give a young person in our local area a start in your business,” Mr Clare said.
Media Contact: Chris Zogopoulos
T: 9790 2466
