Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall with 2016 Bert Evans Scholarship recipient Louise Wall, a hairdressing apprentice in Armidale, and Training NSW’s Alison Dundon.
Tuesday, 16 May 2017
AN apprenticeship can be a fun and practical pathway to a rewarding career – but with tools, travel and training to attend; it can put additional stresses on your finances in the short-term.
There is help available – the NSW Government’s Bert Evans Scholarship is now open to all apprentices who are experiencing financial hardship. The program offers scholarships of $15,000 across three years to those who need it most.
Member for Northern Tablelands and Assistant Minister for Skills Adam Marshall is encouraging apprentices to apply and local employers and training providers to nominate candidates for one of the 50 scholarships on offer.
“Fifty scholarships worth $5,000 a year for three years are awarded to country apprentices, Aboriginal apprentices, women undertaking non-traditional trades and apprentices with a disability,” Mr Marshall said.
“Apprenticeships help many young people get a leg up on a career and put themselves in on a good track for life. But first you need to get there – and many apprentices are doing it tough, especially those living away from home and family.
“These scholarships will help people get through that difficult period and focus on their education.”
Mr Marshall is also urging training providers and employers to consider their apprentices for this prestigious scholarship that he says could really help them make the most of the valuable learning experience.
“These scholarships could make all the difference to a young apprentice and you’ll never know unless you apply,” he said.
The NSW Government funded scholarships are named after the late Bert Evans, who was a distinguished advocate of the VET sector for more than 30 years.
Previous years have seen a hairdresser from Armidale, Moree builders and mechanics and an Inverell electrician take home the coveted scholarship.
For more Information and to apply, visit www.training.nsw.gov.au