The ISA sees a range of ways forward for vocational education. First, it recommends a review be conducted by the Commonwealth Department of Education and Training to ensure the sector is internationally competitive. The Department should develop a strategy “to make the sector increasingly responsive to new priorities presented by innovation, automation and new technologies”. This will include supporting lifelong learning, helping businesses to compete and developing better interfaces with the broader tertiary sector, especially higher education.<\/p>\n

A second recommendation focuses on the need for further VET reform, specifically to optimize the supply-side potential of the Skilling Australia Fund by encouraging both employers and VET providers to identify expected skills<\/p>\n

shortages in the future work requirements of high-growth sectors. The recommendation also proposes linking VET student loan funding to employment outcomes, strengthening ASQA’s powers and providing improved information to students on provider quality.<\/p>\n