23 Dec 2009 : MAS National Supports Local Community Programs
As part of their Community Giving Program, MAS National has recently provided grants to the Leeton-Narrandera LYNKS program and Newman Senior Technical College.
MAS National community grants are provided to support organisations and activities in communities where MAS National has a local presence. Its purpose is to promote local activities that encourage and support increased job participation and vocational training in communities.
In early December, MAS National Regional Manager for Riverina, Frank Valenzisi was pleased to present LYNKS program manager Sue Gavel with a cheque for $3000. The Leeton-Narrandera LYNKS program is an innovative workplace based learning program for 'at risk' Year 10 students who attend the four local high schools. Many of these students may be disengaged with their schooling and wish to consider other options such as entering the workforce to acquire a trade or work in areas such as retail, hospitality or business administration. The program has had considerable success since its inception in 1997. With no Government funding, the program relies on the support of the local community to ensure its continuous success.
MAS National was also able to assist Newman Senior Technical College in northern NSW through the Community Giving Program. MAS National Business Consultant in Port Macquarie, Janice McNabb, presented the college with a grant of $2500. The grant is to assist the college with their school-based aged care traineeship program. The program supports school students and their employers as they undertake traineeships in aged care, an industry that has been identified as experiencing a skill shortage in the region. The funding will assist in promoting aged care as a potential career path to senior school students.
MAS National is pleased to support these worthwhile programs.
01 Dec 2009 : Kickstart Bonus Starts Today!
Today marks the start of the Federal Government's Kickstart bonus. Be quick to take advantage of this incentive as it is only available to the first 21,000 applicants until the 28th February 2010 and could entitle employers to an additional $3350 in incentives.
The Kickstart bonus is available to employers who employ an apprentice aged 19 years and under in a skills shortage occupation. The incenitve is $3350 in total - $800 payable after 3 months with the remaining $2500 to be paid after 9 months.
Contact us for more information.
16 Oct 2009 : Government Announces Apprentice Kickstart Bonus
Last Friday, The Deputy Prime Minister, The Hon Julia Gillard MP, announced that the Rudd Government will invest $100 million in the Apprentice Kickstart program to support young Australians entering traditional trades. This will offer eligible employers up to an additional $3350 in incentives
Under the Apprentice Kickstart program, employers who commence an Australian Apprentice who is aged 19 years and under between 1st December 2009 and 28th February 2010 may be eligible for an additional $3,350 in incentives. This bonus is in addition to the existing incentives under the Australian Apprenticeship Program. Only employers who commence an apprentice in a qualification leading to a traditional trade as listed on the National Skills Needs List will be eligible for the Apprentice Kickstart Bonus. The payments, which will be paid in instalments, are to be paid through Australian Apprenticeship Centres like MAS National. For more information, visit our Financial Incentives page.
Contact us to find out if you will be eligible.
07 Oct 2009 : MAS National: Official Opening of Penrith Site
MAS National held the official opening of its new Penrith Site on 7th October 2009. Many of our clients and stakeholders joined us to celebrate this event.
Special guests included The Hon David Bradbury MP Memeber for Lindsay, Ms Karyn Paluzzano MP Local Member for Penrith and Lower Blue Mountains, Councillor Ben Godfinch, representing the office of the Mayor of Penrith and representatives from the Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations.
MAS National was honoured to have the Hon David Bradbury MP Member fo Lindsay cut the ribbon to officially open the office. In his address, The Hon David Bradbury MP welcomed MAS National to Penrith highlighting the importance of Apprenticeships and Traineeships to the areas and the role in which MAS National plays in promoring and facilitating this.
The new office in Penrith will provide a 'one-stop-shop' for local employers, and our highly trained field staff will arrange to personally visit these employers at a time that suits their business needs. MAS National is the only AAC situated in Penrith. The CEO of MAS National, Kerry Palejs sighted a number of reasons in the decision to open an office in Penrith including the potential growth of business in the area, high levels of education in the region and the absence of an Australian Apprenticeship Centre servicing the local community in Penrith. In addtion to this, MAS National has exceptional knowledge of the local area with three of our senior staff having over 60 years of experience between them in working with local employers.
MAS National now has a total of 18 sites with 5 additional franchisee sites.
For further details of our current locations see the locate us page.
11 Sep 2009 : 2009 NSW Training Awards
MAS National would like to congratulate all the winners and nominees in the 2009 NSW Training Awards held at Darling Harbour on Thursday 10th September 2009
The annual awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievement and talant in the voactional education and training sector. Students, training providers, employers and small business were honoured at the awards for their dedication and excellence in vocational education.
We would like to make special mention to the following clients who were honoured on the night for their accomplishments in apprenticeships and traineeships.
2009 NSW Trainee of the Year - Jacqueline Vella from North West Disability Services
2009 NSW School Based Apprentice of the Year - Telecia Wehlow from Rydges Port Macquarie
2009 NSW Small Training Provider of the Year - Benchmark College
Congratulations also to the following clients who were nominated for awards on the night;
2009 NSW Apprentice of the Year Nominee - Ryan Harris
2009 NSW School Based Apprentice of the year nominee - Ricky Trevithick
2009 NSW Trainee of the Year Nominees - Jessica Hughes
Charlee Law
19 Aug 2009 : MAS National Business Consultant wins Minister's Award - the industry's highest accolade
Congratulations to Tarah Ker, Senior Business Consultant with MAS National in South Australia who received the Minister's Award for Support Services Excellence.
The award was presented by the Deputy Prime Minister, The Hon Julia Gillard MP at a glittering ceremony held at Parliament House in Canberra on the 18th August 2009.
The Minister's Award for Support Services Excellence is the industry's highest accolade and recognises an individual employed in an Australian Apprenticeships Centre who demonstrates outstanding commitment to Australia Apprenticeships in their daily activities. Nominees from across Australia were vying for this award and in what was a rigorous selection process, Tarah was selected as one of three finalist. The Hon Julia Gillard MP announced her as the annual winner on the night.
Tarah is a well deserved recipient of this award. She has worked for MAS National, Mount Gambier, South Australia for six years servicing Australian Apprentices and making a difference to the rural community. Her work territory covers an amazing 21,000 kilometres and she is always willing to go the extra mile for her clients.
Well done Tarah on this fantastic award!
12 Aug 2009 : MAS National welcomes former champion jockey, Bill Aspros
MAS National is excited to welcome Bill Aspros to the team. Bill has joined MAS National in an Industry Support Initiative working closely with NSW Racing to support and mentor apprentices in their career development.
Bill was one of NSW greatest jockeys in the 1990s, until a series of falls interrupted his career. Bill will be providing pastoral care to the many apprentices and trainees in the NSW Racing industry as well as ensuring their employers receive the correct advice with regards to their staff training and potential incentives.
"MAS National is pleased to be part of this exciting initiative, which is a unique opportunity to provide an industry centric model of service delivery," Kerry Palejs, Chief Executive of MAS National, said. MAS National hopes to be able to duplicate this 'industry' model into other industries in the future.
To read further about Bill and his new role with MAS National, visit NSW Racing Training website
01 May 2009 : MAS National Celebrates
MAS National has been contracted by the Australian Government to continue its delivery of Australian Apprenticeships support services until 30 September 2011.
The decision was made by the Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard MP, and announced on Wednesday by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. The contract extension follows discussions between Apprenticeships Centres, including MAS National, and both State and Federal governments which took place over several months.
MAS National Chief Executive Officer, Ms Kerry Palejs said, "This is a fantastic outcome for our entire team, and a welcome reward for our organisation's steadfast commitment to national workforce participation and skills development in Australia."
"We are very pleased to be in the position to provide ongoing assistance to employers, apprentices and trainees for many years to come. On behalf of everyone at MAS National, I sincerely thank all of our customers for their continued support."
05 Mar 2009 : ISSUE 5 - Employer Update Newsletter
The latest instalment of the MAS National Employer Update was today delivered to more than 4500 valued employers.
We want our clients to be fully aware of the rewards available to them; that's why MAS National continues to deliver regular, detailed e-newsletters to keep you in the loop.
In the latest edition:
- Minister announces $145 million jobs and training package
- SA wins almost $40m to train more than 12,000 SA jobseekers
- 175,000 new training places to boost NSW skilled workforce
- AiGTS Chairman's Award
- Updates to training qualifications in NSW and SA
- Ben Chifley Scholarship for apprentices in country NSW
- Training awards and scholarship news
02 Mar 2009 : Securing Apprenticeships and Traineeships
The Deputy Prime Minister, The Hon Julia Gillard MP, announced a new package of assistance to help secure jobs and training arrangements for apprentices and trainees.
The two initiatives, Securing Apprenticeships and Traineeships and Securing Apprenticeships and Traineeships through Registered Training Organisations, are part of the Government's plan to help out-of-trade apprentices and trainees remain connected to the workforce and maintain their investment in training. It is also intended to increase the national skills base through successful completion of apprenticeship and traineeship training.
Under the Securing Apprenticeships and Traineeships incentive, the Government will provide financial assistance to employers who take on out-of-trade apprentices and trainees, or who successfully complete apprentices or trainees, at the Certificate III or IV level in skills shortage trades, or in selected Diploma or Advanced Diploma level qualifications.
The payments, which are available for two years until 31 December 2010, will provide eligible employers with up to an additional $2800 and are to be paid through Australian Apprenticeships Centres like MAS National.
WAGE SUBSIDY
Commencing on 1 July 2009, the Securing Apprenticeships and Traineeships wage subsidy will be available to employers who employ an eligible out-of-trade apprentice or trainee on or after 1 January 2009.
Employers will receive a wage subsidy of $150 per week, paid at the twelve-week point after the apprentice/trainee's recommencement.
COMPLETION PAYMENT
An additional $1000 completion payment will be available to employers, including Group Training Organisations, who successfully complete an eligible apprentice or trainee on or after 1 January 2009.
The payment will be paid on successful completion of the qualification.
These new payments are in addition to the suite of employer incentives already available under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program. Employers of apprentices and trainees at the Certificate III level and above may already be eligible to receive $4000 in incentives comprising a $1500 commencement incentive and a $2500 completion incentive.
For more information, call 1300 MAS NAT (1300 627 628).