The NSW Government has committed $1.5 million to support apprentices and trainees in the Central-West Orana region as renewable energy projects create new construction and operational jobs.
The funding will establish a Group Training Organisation (GTO) program under the government’s Renewable Energy Skills Strategy, providing free pre-apprenticeship and pre-employment training for people seeking work in the renewable energy sector.
According to the NSW Government, the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) is expected to generate more than 1,800 construction jobs and almost 1,000 ongoing operational roles.
The program will be delivered by local not-for-profit organisation Skillset in partnership with EnergyCo and the Department of Education. It is designed to allow businesses to host apprentices and trainees for the duration of individual projects, rather than committing to the full four-year apprenticeship.
If a host employer’s project ends, Skillset will place the apprentice with another employer so they can continue their training while gaining experience across different projects and worksites.
The NSW Government said the arrangement will also reduce recruitment, payroll, compliance and training administration costs for participating businesses.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe said the initiative was intended to ensure regional communities benefit from the jobs associated with the energy transition.
“Renewable Energy Zones are about more than building the energy system NSW needs – they also create local jobs and business opportunities for regional communities,” Sharpe said.
Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said the investment would help address workforce requirements while supporting local employment.
“Building the energy infrastructure NSW needs can’t happen without the sparkies, tradies and skilled workers to build it,” Whan said.
The program will support government workforce requirements, including targets for apprentices to make up at least 20 per cent of the trade workforce and learning workers to account for 20 per cent of the total project workforce.
The GTO initiative complements more than $13 million in workforce and local business programs already underway in the Central-West Orana REZ, according to the NSW Government.
Applications from host businesses and expressions of interest from job seekers are now open.
The government said feedback from the region indicated a GTO model was needed to allow apprentices to work across multiple projects during their training. Whan said the structure would help prevent fewer apprentices from being taken on because of the project-based nature of construction work.
