CoAct and BUSY At Work welcome a new era in Australian Apprenticeship Support Services

MEDIA RELEASE – 23 April, 2024

With a focus on retention and completion for Australian Apprentices, the Federal Government launched the new contract for Australian Apprenticeship Support Services today.  

Australian apprentices are vital for future-proofing skills for Australian industry and addressing the current skills shortages, particularly evident since COVID. Key features of the new contract include an enhanced assessment process at the beginning of apprenticeships to better equip individuals for their journey. In addition, extensive and tailored mentoring services have been implemented to provide crucial support to apprentices facing challenges that may hinder their completion, as well as to assist employers in effectively managing their apprenticeships. 

In collaboration with BUSY At Work, a leading provider of Australian Apprenticeship Support Services, CoAct is excited to announce the expansion of its apprenticeship support service regions. While continuing service in Perth, Western Australia, CoAct is extending its partnership with BUSY At Work to deliver services in Victoria starting July 1st. With a longstanding collaboration, CoAct and BUSY At Work combine expertise in employment services, skills development and apprenticeship services. BUSY At Work will maintain its role in delivering Australian Apprenticeship Support Services in Queensland, while also leveraging its extensive experience to support apprentices and employers in New South Wales and Tasmania. 

Under the new Australian Apprenticeship Support Services contract, increased emphasis is placed on priority cohort supports, with a particular focus on First Nations people, women entering male-dominated trades, and those entering the clean energy sectors. These specialist Australian Apprenticeship Support Services offer extended support for employers and apprentices, ultimately aiming to enhance retention and completion rates, cultivate a proficient workforce and increase workplace participation. 

 Queensland 

• Generalist Australian Apprenticeship Support Services 
• Specialist Australian Apprenticeship Support Services for Women in Male-Dominated Trades 
• Specialist Australian Apprenticeship Support Services for First Nations people (in partnership with Five Bridges) 
• Specialist Australian Apprenticeship Support Services for those entering the Clean Energy sector 

Perth, Western Australia (in partnership with The Apprenticeship Community – part of the CoAct network)

•  Generalist Australian Apprenticeship Support Services 
• Specialist Australian Apprenticeship Support Services for Women in Male-Dominated Trades 

The start of the new contract will herald some changes in Perth, where services were formerly delivered under The Apprenticeship Community brand. The Apprenticeship Community team will now deliver services under the BUSY At Work brand.  

 The Apprenticeship Community is a part of the CoAct network.  

 Victoria (in partnership with CoAct) 

 Generalist Australian Apprenticeship Support Services 

CoAct and BUSY At Work have a rich history of supporting the Victorian community through Australian Government-funded employment services, career mentoring, scholarship programs, and our extensive experience in Victorian Apprenticeship Field Services. Backed by 25 years of success in Australian Apprenticeship Support Services, starting July 1, BUSY At Work will also be supporting Victorian apprentices and industry with their skills and staffing requirements.  

 New South Wales 

 With local networks already established in the delivery of employment services and career mentoring programs in New South Wales, BUSY At Work will increase their service offerings to include Australian Apprenticeship Support Services from 1 July and will deliver: 

•  Generalist Australian Apprenticeship Support Services 
• Specialist Australian Apprenticeship Support Services for those entering the Clean Energy sector 
• Specialist Australian Apprenticeship Support Services for First Nations people (in partnership with Yilabara Solutions)  

 Tasmania 

Drawing upon years of experience in Tasmania, BUSY At Work has been dedicated to delivering career mentoring support under the Skills Checkpoint program and will utilise its established networks and long-term experience to deliver Australian Apprenticeship Support Services from 1 July in the following:

• Specialist Australian Apprenticeship Support Services for Women in Male-Dominated Trades 
• Specialist Australian Apprenticeship Support Services for those entering the Clean Energy sector 

 Under the new contract, CoAct / BUSY At Work’s Australian Apprenticeship Support Services delivery model—aptly named i-Complete—offers: 

•  Initial pre-assessment powered by Cognisess, an internationally renowned career assessment tool, and behavioural science input to gauge apprentice/trainee suitability for their chosen industry.  
• Enhanced assessment to identify the risk of non-completion and enable early intervention supports, with tailored reports for apprentices, employers, Registered Training Organisations, and BUSY At Work Mentors. 
• Carefully selected BUSY At Work Mentors, blending industry experience with suitable qualifications, to provide support for complex issues, career pathways and peer mentoring networks. 
• Tailored stakeholder communications using CRM tools to deliver timely and relevant information to apprentices and employers throughout the apprenticeship journey.  

 Managing Director for The BUSY Group, Paul Miles, said he was looking forward to providing employers, apprentices and trainees with additional services to enhance the success rates of apprenticeships in the regions BUSY At Work serves. 

 BUSY has been delivering Australian Apprenticeship Support services for over 25 years and we’ve achieved market leading results in Queensland and Western Australia, largely due to our innovative, data-driven approach and passionate, experienced team members. Under the new contract model, our additional support offerings will go a long way in retaining apprentices and continuing our mission to support more people into career pathways and address current skills shortages for industry in Australia. 

 Find out more about CoAct / BUSY At Work and our delivery of Australian Apprenticeship Support Services.