The second of eight face-to-face consultations about the future of Vocational Education and Training (VET) is being held in Hobart today, led by the new 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.
“Around 43,000 students study VET qualifications in the public VET system in Tasmania,
including approximately 9000 apprentices and trainees. These students and potential employers deserve training that is of the highest quality.
“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 have already committed $578 million to the state through our Economic Growth Plan for Tasmania to enhance Tasmania’s competitiveness and investment prospects and $106 million
through the Tasmanian Jobs and Growth Plan.
“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.
For details on the consultations and how to register visit: http://vetreform.industry.gov.au/events/national-consultations