Critical Skills Investment Fund (CSIF): AMTIL wins grant to help develop skills

Melbourne-based Australian Manufacturing Institute Limited (AMTIL) has won a $2.5 million grant through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) to develop critical skills and up-skill existing workers to meet demand in the advanced manufacturing sector.

Under the banner “Enabling critical industries – supply chain skills, training”, more than 300 new and existing workers around the country will have the chance to upgrade their skills and gain higher level qualifications across a range of manufacturing companies, supplying critical products, parts and components to key industry sectors.

AMTIL won the grant after the Federal Government announced to pump $28 million into new training programs in a bid to reduce the critical skills shortages facing resource, construction, infrastructure and renewable energy sectors.

“The project will train 313 workers in 27 companies from Certificate III to Diploma relating to Advanced Manufacturing,” explains AMTIL’s Project Coordinator David Creighton. “Involving our Advanced Manufacturing Capability Alliance including RMIT University, Swinburne University, Vative and Leadership Management Australia, we ensure flexible training delivery to workers.”

The project aims to up-skill shopfloor staff for qualified trades and management jobs and to provide training for existing workers and people willing to enter the workforce.

“To remain competitive, industry needs to maintain its advantage through continuously developing highly skilled workers with effective and strategic nationally accredited qualifications,” says Project Manager Greg Chalker. "Industry is demanding highly skilled workers and this program will support employers to improve the capability of their workforce allowing them a good chance of achieving sustainable growth in their business."

AMTIL CEO Shane Infanti adds it was important that industry and employers took advantage of this project to address their skills in demand. “This funding agreement reiterates the Government’s confidence in our organisation to help deliver the skill level our industry needs in order to compete with the best in the world,” he says. “We have members that see the up-skilling of their staff as an investment in their business and we are very pleased to assist those members in the funding of specific training relevant to their needs.”

Minister for Skills and Jobs, Senator Chris Evans, last month announced successful projects under the $200 million Critical Skills Investment Fund (CSIF). The goal of the Fund is to help increase the supply of skilled labour for enterprises in critical industry sectors. To achieve this, the Fund supports many different projects such as AMTIL’s, that train and place job seekers into available positions, and that up-skill existing workers to meet new demands.

The successful projects under Funding Round 1 are co-funded by industry contributions and together are worth more than $41 million.

Contact:

Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL)

Mr David Creighton

Ph: 03 9800 3666

Email: dcreighton@amtil.com.au

Web: www.amtil.com.au