"Hasa" that is indeed disappointing but not surprising to read.
The word apprenticeship will go in the annuls of the past, something to be read by the next generation who will think gee fancy having to work for a living & learn a trade....eeeekkkkk!
The way I see the future for Australian industries (said with tongue in cheek as we simply have none of any worth) is that most manual work will be done by other means, IE robotic-ally or sent off shore & the only hands-on labour that will exists here (in the land of opportunities...cough cough cough) will be those that dig holes (& fill 'em back up again, Eg council worker), the main employment stream will be over educated Uni products, pen pushers, future generations of white shirts that wouldn't know which way to turn a screwdriver! Sure we need them as well but the balance is now way out of kilter!
The days of hands on skills in life will no longer be needed, you just look it up on yr iPad & order a new one 'cause no one will know how to fix anything!
We are breeding a new Australia full of princesses (look at the latest footy princess fiasco!) politically correct whom are over-reliant on the system that has no long term future. They want it & they want it NOW!
The way of the future where sometimes progress (used loosely) is short term!
Wmk2