Nominations have opened for the state government’s Women in Manufacturing Apprentice Awards 2026, which recognises outstanding female apprentices in the Queensland manufacturing workforce. The two awards on offer are: Leading Apprentice Award winner ($10,000 prize); and The Highly Commended Apprentice Award for the runner-up ($5,000 prize) “These awards are about celebrating the trailblazing women leading…
The Australian Industry Group’s Centre for Education and Training has released new research on the experiences of the employers of Australian apprentices, showing they believe the system is “becoming increasingly costly and complex” at a time where the nation risks “falling well short of delivering the skilled workforce needed to lift our flagging productivity”. The…
Australian manufacturing faces a hidden crisis as the number of toolmakers and engineering pattern-makers has declined by 70 per cent between 2006 and 2021, according to the latest Census data. Only 2,220 practitioners remain in this vital trade, with just 411 of these under 40 years old. Toolmakers and engineering pattern-makers create and repair precision…
South Australia welcomed its first cohort of 30 trainees and apprentices under two new defence industry pathways programs aimed at building the skilled workforce needed for Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines and naval vessels, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy announced on Monday. The Defence Industry Pathways Program and the Shipbuilding Employment Pathways initiative will ultimately provide training…
Starpharma’s loss, strong financial position Biotechnology company Starpharma‘s loss narrowed during FY24 by 48 percent from $15.6 million to $8.2 million. Net cash outflow of $11.8 million was down $7.4 million from FY23 on revenue up 132 percent to $9.8 million. Revenue included a one-time $6.6 million cash payment from Mundipharma on termination of a…
Australia and US collaborate on ballistic missile interception Australia has supported the United States as it undertook a successful missile defence test off the coast of Hawaii. Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force assets supported the test conducted by the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the US Navy. The US test involved…
Aluminium fast ferry manufacturer Incat Tasmania has welcomed 15 new apprentices to its Hobart shipyard, including the highest intake of female apprentices in the company’s history. Incat Chairman Robert Clifford said it had never been a more exciting time to join the company. Clifford said: “We are currently building the largest battery electric zero emission…
Coomera, Queensland luxury boatbuilder, Riviera has welcomed a record intake of 52 first apprentices including 12 females, adding to more than 400 tradespeople trained at the company over the past three decades. In total 27 are school based apprentices and 25 are full time apprentices. The motor yacht sector has been riding a significant economic…
WA government backs engineered stone ban The state government announced on Wednesday that it will support the prohibition of the future use of engineered stone in Western Australian workplaces, citing the risk of silicosis. A recent report from Safe Work Australia found there no known safe level of silica in engineered stone, and concluded the…
Electrical engineering group Ampcontrol has announced a record intake of 55 apprentices across its operations for 2024. The apprentices employed are in electrical, fabrication, mechanical fitting and machining trades, with 38 of them starting in NSW, nine in Queensland and eight in WA. “We are excited to be welcoming 55 new apprentices into our business…