Face-to-face consultations around the country about the future of Vocational Education and Training (VET) continued in Adelaide today, led by Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham.
“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.
“Here in South Australia, the youth unemployment rate is 14.5 per cent which is higher than the national average of 13.2 per cent, and our participation rate stands at 61.3 per cent, which again is lower than the national rate. The South Australian unemployment rate is 6.5 per cent, higher than the national unemployment rate of 6.1 per cent.
“The youth unemployment rate in South Australia is appalling, and we want to ensure that we are looking after student needs and we want to make certain that taxpayers have confidence
the record funding support for VET is delivering improved employment outcomes, higher productivity, greater national competitiveness and stronger economic growth.
“Nearly 170,000 students study VET qualifications in the public VET system in South Australia, including approximately 28,000 apprentices and trainees in South Australia.
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.
“Our commitment to VET is unparalleled, and we have already committed $130 million this financial year to support South Australians to participate in VET training,” he said.
“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.
For details on the consultations and how to register visit: http://vetreform.industry.gov.au/events/national-consultations