June 2017

Thirteen passionate teachers working in Victoria’s training sector will boost their skills and improve their career opportunities thanks to the Victorian Government. Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney today announced the successful applicants for the 2017 Skills First Academic Grants, which are open to teachers working in the Victorian Government-funded training system. The successful […]

Our education system tends to organise around technical skills – but soft skills deserve equal weight. The school curriculum is divided into subject streams like mathematics and history. VET teaching teams and departments deliver domain specific skills like technical drawing or hairdressing or accounting. Training packages are designed with technical skills front and centre. Higher

The focus on STEM studies tends to link schools and universities – if anything, the VET link is stronger. Australia needs to increase the proportion of secondary students who pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) through to Year 12 and beyond. The Office of the Chief Scientist believed if industry and schools worked more

The Commonwealth’s 2017 Budget announced the establishment of the Skilling Australians Fund – a $1.5 billion allocation through to 2020-21 that will require matching funding from the states and territories. The Fund prioritises apprenticeships, traineeships, pre-apprenticeships, higher level apprenticeships, occupations in high demand, and areas with growth potential. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research

Australia continually revisits the debate about how to recognise continuing professional development for VET professionals Despite widespread agreement about the value of CPD, we continue to revisit an unresolved debate about the virtues of establishing a nationally recognised CPD system for VET professionals. An NCVER paper released in May throws light on why this debate

But there’s a mismatch between public perceptions of VET and the facts about what VET delivers Australia is lucky to have an innovative, active organisation like Skilling Australia Foundation, firmly focused as it is on the benefits VET brings to young Australians and the national economy. The Foundation is a determined advocate for VET, as

It’s fair to say we’re unsure, but it seems a significant reason is many employers see less value in the apprenticeship model The Fair Work Commission is active in supporting research to inform its decision making on matters such as minimum award wages and conditions. Among research studies the Commissions has released this year is