Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham attended the fourth of eight face-to-face consultations about the future of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Sydney today.
“Our Government is embarking upon an ambitious program of VET reform to lift the quality of both training providers and their courses, so as to further enhance the contribution VET makes to the employment prospects of students and the competitiveness of Australia's economy,” said Senator Birmingham.
“More than half a million students are undertaking VET qualifications in the public VET system in NSW. This figure includes around 101,000 apprentices and trainees. These students and potential employers deserve training that is of the highest quality.
“In 2014 VET FEE-HELP was extended to NSW students undertaking subsidised training in Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses and over 2014-15 the Australian Government will
provide NSW with $579 million in funding to support the subsidisation of VET training.
“Our commitment to VET is unparalleled, with Australian Government contributions to support
providers and students on track to surpass $6 billion per annum, and forecast to continue growing.
“We want to ensure that taxpayers have confidence the record funding support for VET is delivering improved employment outcomes, higher productivity, greater national
competitiveness and stronger economic growth.
“Over the last sixteen months our government has sought to better empower the skills regulator to target dodgy training providers while aiming to ease the red tape burden on good providers.
“In coming months, informed by feedback from these consultations, new and streamlined structures for designing and developing the content of training courses will be developed. These new structures will put industry and businesses at the heart of the process, ensuring training courses best provide the skills required for the jobs of the future.
“As the new minister, I look forward to engaging with VET providers and industry to give the millions of Australians reliant on the VET sector the best opportunities possible.”
Consultations with Registered Training Organisations, industry, students and key stakeholders will be held in every capital city during January and February. A series of
webinars will also be conducted.
For details on the consultations and how to register visit: http://vetreform.industry.gov.au/events/national-consultations