“Low wages are the major problem,” Dr Montague says.

“Training levies on employers are not what’s needed to boost apprentice numbers and increase completions.

“Instead, wage subsidies should be diverted from the corporate sector and given to apprentices – tax free – with direct subsidies increasing as they achieve key milestones.

Dr Montague feels that it is a serious concern that less than half of the people that begin apprenticeships do not complete them.

“There needs to be much more focus on the recognition of prior learning and fast-tracking. Currently, too much learning is occurring simply for the sake of learning, when too often the apprentices already have the skills.

“Higher qualifications lead to higher employment, which in turn impacts on health and wellbeing and increases taxes to government.

The inclusion of a higher salary package for apprentices is something that Dr Montague feels will increase the completion rate and also result in both a social and fiscal return to Australian society.

“Above all, what is urgently needed is the development of one national body to administer all aspects of employment and training for apprentices.

“The system we have now is confusing, wasteful and inefficient. In the face of Australia’s current skill shortages and the very real shortages predicted for the future, this must be an urgent priority for government.”

A Lecturer in the School of Management, Dr Montague has worked as a vocational counsellor and is the former manager of RMIT’s Apprenticeship and Traineeship programs.

His research interests include education policies and their impact of industry and the labour market, global skill shortages and post-compulsory education pathways.