Employers to Drive New Model for Training Product Development

Australian employers and industry will be placed at the heart of a new approach to the development of vocational education and training products announced by the Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham, today. “In an increasingly competitive, globalised and technologically-advanced economy, Australian industry needs skills training that meets the demands of their…

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Trade Support Loan Apprentice Sign Ups Crack 20,000

More than 20,000 applications have been received for an Australian Government scheme that eases the financial strain on apprentices through flexible loan options. Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham, said the milestone shows the importance of the Trade Support Loans Programme in giving apprentices the best possible chance of completing their trade…

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Skills Advisers Network Tender Open

A new tender process announced today will address workforce skills needs and help build national productivity. Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham said the Industry Skills Fund (ISF) Skills Adviser Tender will select organisations to provide expert industry professionals who will form a national network of skills advisers. “We want organisations that…

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Dodgy providers will be fined

For the first time Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) breaching standards could be issued with an immediate fine under the new infringement notice scheme starting today. Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham, said that up until now the national regulator, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) could only write warning letters, or take…

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Time is up for shonky VET spruikers

The next major step in a series of rolling reforms to vocational education and training (VET) commences today, stamping out unethical behaviour by training providers and their agents. Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham, said that changes to the VET FEE-HELP scheme guidelines mean unethical inducements to prospective students to sign up…

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Vocational Education and Training is Critical to International Education

The Draft National Strategy for International Education released for consultation today by Minister for Education and Training, Christopher Pyne, highlights the critical role vocational education and training (VET) has on the overall spectrum of international education. Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham, welcomed the consultation period on the strategy saying that Australian…

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Government’s stronger training laws pass Parliament

New legislation passed the Senate today that will further crack down on dodgy Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers.  Assistant Minister for Education and Training Senator Simon Birmingham welcomed the Senate’s decision to pass the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment Bill 2015.  “Passing this Bill sends a clear signal that the Australian Government…

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Labor Hypocrisy on VET FEE-HELP

Labor's leader and education spokespeople should be blushing with embarrassment at their responses to today's reforms preventing unscrupulous marketers from targeting vulnerable Australians and exploiting taxpayers to the tune of billions of dollars. Assistant Minister for Education and Training Senator Simon Birmingham said that while Labor had been responsible for the significant expansion of the…

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ACPET codes of practice and ethics launched

The Codes of Practice and Ethics of the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET) were launched today in Melbourne. Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham, has today launched the codes of practice and ethics, an industry-led response to tackling rogue providers and lifting standards in the vocational education and training…

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