Projects

Industry 4.0 is about the next stage in manufacturing driven by the impact of digitalisation and emerging technologies on Australia’s ability to compete and participate in global value chains. This project was funded by the Commonwealth Department of Education and Training under the Apprenticeships Training – Alternative Delivery Pilots Program. It sought to address these challenges through the development and introduction of a new Diploma and Associate Degree of Applied Technologies, developed by Swinburne University of Technology, and delivered in technology-rich companies including Siemens Ltd through an apprenticeship mode. The project was completed at the end of 2019

Ai Group undertook two projects within its Apprenticeship Compact with the NSW Department of Industry. The projects aimed to assist companies and their apprentices with language, literacy and numeracy needs, and to assist school/industry liaison for the recruitment of apprentices. The projects were completed at the end of 2019.

During 2018 and 2019, the Workforce Development team was contracted to deliver services to apprentices in the manufacturing industry under an Australian Government Program, Industry Specialist Mentoring for Australian Apprentices (ISMAA). Our apprentice mentors worked across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania. The service provided intensive support to apprentices and trainees in the first two years of their training in industries that are undergoing structural change. It assisted in meeting the long-held concerns of Ai Group and others regarding the enduringly low completion rates of apprentices. This issue along with ongoing low commencement rates continues to be a major problem at a time when industry has reported shortages in trades and technician workers and is re-focusing its workforce to meet the challenges arising through digitalisation.

This project mapped current school - industry STEM skills programs nationally and conducted pilot programs designed to raise the participation of schools and industry in the provision of STEM skills.

This Australian Government funded project aimed to determine the return on investment for employers participating in the Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL) program.