Mobility Grants Open up a World of Study Opportunities

Australian vocational education and training (VET) students have the chance to pick up valuable new skills through exciting overseas study opportunities in 2016. Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham, said the 2016 Endeavour Mobility Grants will provide around $8.3 million to support at least 2500 Australian VET, undergraduate and postgraduate students in…

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Next Step to Strengthen VET Reform Process

The next step in the Australian Government’s VET reforms will be taken this week when the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment (Enforcement) Regulation 2015 is tabled before both Houses of Parliament.  The Regulation was tabled in the Senate this morning and will be tabled in the House of Representatives tomorrow.  Since April 2…

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New industry and skills committee to strengthen VET

A new industry and skills committee has been established to provide effective industry leadership to the vocational education and training (VET) sector in Australia.  The announcement coincides with the COAG Industry and Skills Committee meeting being held in Melbourne today. Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham, announced the composition of the Australian…

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Skills Ministers agree to simpler, more responsive training system

Vocational students and employers will have a simpler, more responsive national training system under projects agreed today by Commonwealth, State and Territory Skills Ministers. Assistant Minister for Education and Training Senator Simon Birmingham chaired today’s meeting of Skills Ministers as part of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Industry and Skills Council. “Vocational education and…

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Nowra Apprentices, Trainees to Benefit from New Network

Businesses, apprentices and trainees across the Gilmore electorate will be able to access innovative support services through four organisations under the new Australian Apprenticeship Support Network that was announced on Monday. Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham, is visiting Nowra today and said the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN), which will commence…

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Nominate a Skills and Training Champion

The search is on for Australia’s vocational skills and training champions, with just one month before applications close for the 2015 Australian Training Awards. Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham said the awards were a great way to recognise those doing important work in the skills and training space. “I encourage individuals,…

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Surge in International VET Students a Sign of High Quality

New figures show Australia’s international vocational education and training (VET) student numbers are well up on this time last year, highlighting the sector’s quality. The Australian Government data reveals that international VET student enrolments increased to almost 93,000 in the March 2015 quarter – a 15.5 per cent increase compared with the same period last…

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New Support Network to Increase Apprentice Completion Rates

Businesses, apprentices and trainees will now have access to new and innovative support services after the 11 organisations making up the new Australian Apprenticeship Support Network were announced today.    Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham, said the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) is a $200 million annual investment to recruit, train…

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Labor’s failure to Apprentices

The Australian National Audit Office’s (ANAO) report into the Apprenticeships Incentives Program, released today, shows that once again Labor failed to have in place a system to ensure that programmes deliver meaningful outcomes. Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham, said today’s report concludes that Labor failed to properly administer the apprenticeships incentives…

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