That ICPA (Aust) request the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations to amend guidelines, so that the Apprentice Connect Australia Providers (ACAP) ensure rural and remote Australian Apprentices are fully supported by each provider and are recognised as a Service Specialisation within the 2024-2026 AASN contract guidelines.
Recognition that ‘rural and remote’ are a separate specialisation group is required to ensure appropriate assistance is provided so those in need have equity of access to post school qualifications. Bourke Branch appreciates that this has been somewhat addressed in the 2024 review of non-financial support for apprentices - where the four Key Client Groups to be supported by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations contracted ACAP’s are
• Australian Apprentices in Remote Australia, along with
• Women in Male Dominated Trades,
• First Nation Australian Apprentices,
• Australian Apprentices with Disability
Although the guidelines contain positive changes the latest contract for ACAP’s has not placed Australian Apprentices in Remote Australia as a Service Specialisation, as it has for the other three Key Client Groups. (section 2.3 of Request for Tenders for ACAP 2024-6 document page 29)
Still operating under the 2024 contracts ACAP’s are no longer the provider of the full non-financial support system for Australian Apprentices as was previously the case. Within this structure our understanding is that if an Apprentice sits within the geographic area the ACAP has been contracted to cover, yet may have Apprentices who have needs outside of the ACAP’s contracted Specialisations, who is supporting these apprentices who require the specialist support as Rural and Remote? Should an apprentice require specialist support, it is concerning that if their ACAP is not contracted to offer this support they may either not receive the identified supports or will have to navigate contact and assistance from a second ACAP.
