VET FEE-HELP providers under the microscope

Targeted audits of Registered Training Organisations(RTOs) will address allegations of unscrupulous marketing and other practices intended to exploit the Australian Government’s VET FEE-HELP program. Assistant Minister for Education and Training Senator Simon Birmingham said the national regulator, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), would undertake a total of 23 audits of RTOs including of providers…

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Employers urged to have their say on training

Assistant Minister for Education and Training Senator Simon Birmingham has urged Australian employers to take part in the Survey of Australian Employers being conducted by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) over coming weeks. The survey aims to ask 9,000 employers from across the country and from all industry sectors about their experiences…

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New Retail Series Launch

An innovative retail training initiative to support employer-led training that focuses on job outcomes will be launched in Melbourne today by the Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham.  “The New Retail Series is developing ‘fit for purpose’ training and involves employers in the development of qualifications and training requirements,” said Senator Birmingham. “Two…

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Local School Embracing Independence

The new $70 million Independent Public School Initiative will help local government schools to become more independent by increasing their own local governance and community and parental engagement.  Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham and Member for Herbert, Ewen Jones, met with the administration team at Townsville’s Hermit Park State School, which…

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Queensland consulted on Vocational Education and Training

Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham attended face-to-face consultations in Queensland about the future of Vocational Education and Training.  “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…

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Western Australian businesses urged to apply for new Industry Skills Fund

Businesses in Western Australia can now apply for support to boost the skills of their workforce under the Abbott Government’s new $476 million Industry Skills Fund.  “I urge growing Western Australian businesses to access support to upskill or retrain their employees to boost their business productivity and competitiveness,” said Senator Simon Birmingham, Assistant Minister for…

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