Thursday, 19 June 2025

 Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:34): The Allan Labor government is backing our apprentices with a new apprentice help desk. Last week I launched the new help desk, a free service that provides advice and support to apprentices and trainees. This is part of a $9 million package to improve fairness, safety and mental health for apprentices and trainees, supporting them to complete their qualification so they can start their great career. It is staffed by trained apprentice case support officers. It can provide information about wages, training contracts, rights and responsibilities, and importantly health and wellbeing at work. It can also help apprentices and trainees report serious issues, such as bullying and harassment, to the right regulator. The apprenticeship help desk builds on the success of Victoria’s apprenticeship support officer program that provides support to apprentices on TAFE campuses. These are nation-leading programs overseen by Apprenticeships Victoria to support apprentices to complete their apprenticeship and start their career. Last week I attended the Skills and Workforce Ministerial Council meeting, where I strongly advocated for improved safety and culture and fair wages for apprentices. Closing the gender gap and encouraging more women into traditionally male-dominated trade apprenticeships is also a priority that Victoria has ensured is on the national agenda. The apprentice help desk is available 9 to 5 Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. If you need support, call 1300 311 820. More than 40,000 trade apprentices have been issued their trade papers and have started their careers since 2019. We want to see even more apprentices succeed, and we are giving them the quality training and support that they need to do just that.