Industry groups have welcomed the federal government’s ambitious education priorities which put vocational education and training on equal footing with higher education.
The reforms are part of the Employment White Paper released this week by the federal government to address critical llabour shortages which have impacted the HVACR and building services industry for more than a decade.
Master Builders Australia CEO, Denita Wawn, said developing an informed and evidence-based roadmap for Australia to build a bigger, better-trained, and more productive workforce is critical to Australia’s future success.
“The investments in skills and training, better integration of tertiary education, and the development of higher and bachelor-equivalent apprenticeships will help address the bias that exists with going to university over VET,” Wawn said.
The government will equip more Australians with the skills of the future by turbocharging TAFE Centres of Excellence and accelerating the take up of higher and degree apprenticeships in the priority areas of net zero, care, and digitisation.
In identifying the most important challenges and opportunities for the economy, particularly the transformation to net zero, the Employment White Paper outlines how the Commonwealth will increase funding to fast track up to six new TAFE Centres of Excellence under the five-year National Skills Agreement, which is currently being negotiated.
This extra funding will support partnerships between TAFEs, Jobs and Skills Councils, industry and universities - to establish TAFE Centres of Excellence, design and teach world leading curriculum and provide students with cutting edge skills.
In addition to the $325 million that has already been proposed by the government under the National Skills Agreement for TAFE Centres of Excellence, the government will commit an additional around $41 million, comprising of around $31 million to turbocharge the new TAFE Centres of Excellence and approximately $10 million to develop higher and degree apprenticeships.
Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor, said the intention is to create new degree apprenticeship qualifications and enable TAFEs to deliver new bachelor equivalent higher apprenticeships independent of universities, giving them capacity to provide students with opportunities to gain the advanced skills needed by industries.
He said the government is aiming to double higher apprenticeship commencements in the priority areas identified in the White Paper over five years.
“For the workers of the future it doesn’t necessarily have to be one or the other – TAFE or Uni – it can be a combination of technical skills development and conceptual knowledge,” O’Connor said.
“Higher apprenticeships are an innovative skills pathway, ensuring the education and training sector can respond to the skills that industry demands and is responsive and agile.
“Industry needs will be built into the model by encouraging an employment relationship as part of the design meaning that students get the best of classroom and workplace learning and a line of sight to a meaningful job at the end of their training.”
O’Connor said the reforms announced this week will mean that apprentices can get degree-level qualifications and university students can more easily get practical training and skills.
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers said it isabout producing more graduates with more of the skills they’ll need to make the most of the big shifts that are shaping the Australian economy.
“By equipping more Australians with the skills of the future and accelerating the take up of higher apprenticeships in key priority areas, we can help realise our vision for a brighter working future,” Chalmers said.
“To deepen and broaden our industrial base, we need to deepen and broaden the skills of our people and the Employment White Paper is an important part of that conversation.
“We want students of all ages to be able to move more easily between vocational education and higher education to develop skills, boost productivity, and meet the skills challenge that confronts the whole of the economy.”