An agreement has been made between the Federal Government and all State and Territory Governments to invest in a new $80 million infection control training fund to support Australian businesses reopening following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Australian Industry Skills Emergency Response Sub-Committee will roll out new dedicated infection control short courses to train employees in customer-facing businesses how to minimise the spread of COVID-19 and maintain a safe, healthy, COVID-19-free workplace. Employees will receive access to this training with minimal or no fees involved.

The goal of this fund is to pave the way for some 80,000 employees in the retail, food handling and transport and logistics to return safely to work while providing confidence to their customers that the business is taking every precaution to ensure a safe environment.

Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash said this funding was crucial in kick-starting Australia’s strong and rapid economic recovery and was pleased with the government’s quick response.

“With a critical need to keep Australians safe during the coronavirus pandemic we’ve taken urgent action to provide nationally-accredited training to ensure customer-facing workplaces can re-open safely and as quickly as possible,” said Minister Cash.

“This infection control training is designed to empower workers by teaching them the skills and knowledge they need to decrease risk and transmission of infection while carrying out their daily duties.

“The trained workers will help to inspire confidence in their customers while also helping to minimise the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus as Australian re-opens businesses, rebuilds the workforce and positions for strong and rapid economic recovery.”

The Federal Government has invested $40 million into the project, with state and territory governments matching this investment to bring it to $80 million.

Additional training will also be made available to employees in aged and disability care to increase infection control standards in these industries to protect individuals in these industries.

Training will be made available by 1 July 2020, with state and territory governments to take control of delivery.

Source: Department for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business | Infection control training fast-tracked for re-opening businesses

19 May 2020