The Federal Government’s latest bid to help solve the apprentice shortage kicks off this week with the launch of a new course in Queensland to get people into the baking industry.

Unemployed job seekers are being offered the chance for a career in the field with the launch of a three week course at Baking Industry Training Australia (BITA), the organisation working alongside Mission Australia to fill vacancies at the manufacturing bakery of company Top Taste.

The course has been organised through the Australian Apprenticeships Access Program with funding from the Federal Department of Education, Science and Training, to provide jobs to those experiencing barriers to skilled employment.

BITA training manager Terry Yuke, who has 30 years of experience in the industry, says the program is an exciting opportunity to introduce baking to the candidates. “Baking is a craft that anyone can appreciate and take up, whether you left school in year ten or have been unemployed for several years,” Yuke says. The trainees will learn basic baking skills in ingredient identification, trade calculations, workplace health and safety, baking products and cake making production.

At the end of the three week course the units of competency gained in the program will be transferable to a full time apprenticeship.