Building skills, rebuilding confidence: Apprenticeships in focus

In this episode of the Business Voice podcast, Victorian Chamber Chief Executive Paul Guerra is joined by Dean Luciani, CEO of Westvic Staffing Solutions and inaugural Chair of the Global Apprenticeship Network Australia.With more than a decade of experience placing over 4,000 apprentices across regional Victoria, Dean shares his powerful insights on the current skills crisis, declining apprenticeship numbers and the urgent need for reform in Australia’s vocational training system.The conversation covers the impact of the federal election, the widening youth unemployment gap, barriers facing small businesses and the cultural stigma still surrounding trades. Drawing on global models like the Swiss-German apprenticeship system, Dean offers practical solutions to rebuild Australia’s skilled workforce – starting with schools, employers and stronger government support.