astra domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/studyfoxx/public_html/proactivetraining.com.au/news/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131This article is at least partially inspired by one in the TAFE Directors Australia newsletter. Some of the text is copied from or draws on that article.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government is providing an additional\u00a0$3.7 billion\u00a0to the states and territories as part of negotiations over a new five-year\u00a0National Skills Agreement\u00a0to commence from 1 January 2024. It includes a further\u00a0300,000 TAFE and VET fee-free places. Have a look at this budget fact sheet<\/a>. It covers a range of initiatives.<\/p>\n One of these is a focus on foundational skills, with \u201c$436.4 million over 4 years for a redesigned Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program to enhance language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills.\u201d You can find out more about this here<\/a>. (VDC News also highlighted foundational skills in a recent article<\/a>. An earlier article<\/a> also took a look at why foundation skills are important.)<\/p>\n Another is \u201c$54 million\u00a0allocated for a new model for delivering\u00a0non-financial apprentice support\u00a0to commence from July next year.\u201d Have a look here<\/a> for more details!<\/p>\n You can access the Skills and Training Minister\u2019s media release<\/a> for a useful summary of what the budget will support.<\/p>\n In addition, the budget fact sheet highlighted above points to addressing range of access and equity issues, including:<\/p>\n Improving things seems to be another item on the funding agenda through TAFE Centres of Excellence \u201cto partner with industry, universities, and governments to address critical challenges in our economy such as transformation to a clean economy, manufacturing and sovereign capability, care and support.\u201d In addition, funding will further VET Workforce capability by supporting the \u201cdevelopment and implementation a VET Workforce Blueprint in partnership with the sector, to strengthen and support a high-quality VET workforce, which teaches up-to-date industry relevant curriculum.\u201d<\/p>\n Training for our national defence has also got a \u2018look in\u2019 as well, with \u201can $11 million extension of the Defence Industry Pathways Program (DIPP), a joint arrangement between the Commonwealth, South Metropolitan TAFE in WA, and Programmed, which delivers 12-month traineeships in the defence industry.\u201d In addition, \u201ca total of $3.9 million is going to establish a defence vocational skills taskforce to develop the workforce for a sovereign industrial base and for the AUKUS submarine program.\u201d<\/p>\n Finally, there is\u00a0$8.6 million\u00a0for the\u00a0Australian Skills Guarantee\u00a0<\/a>which will set targets for apprentices, trainees and paid cadets working on government funded major infrastructure and ICT projects. In addition, a sum of\u00a0$42.2 million\u00a0will be provided over four years to implement a new digital solution to administer the\u00a0VET Student Loans\u00a0program. Two\u00a0Skills Assessment Pilots\u00a0<\/a>will \u201caim to provide onshore migrants with fast tracked skills assessments are to be adjusted.\u201d<\/p>\n TAFE was spared in the recent Victorian state budget.\u00a0 Key features include $186 million to expand subsidised training including wider eligibility for Free TAFE and removing the once per lifetime limit on Free TAFE courses for some training pathways, $90.5 million for subsidised vocational training across the system and a further $90 million for TAFEs to provide priority skills, job placement support, improve student wellbeing and to maintain high-quality workforces. In addition, $3.8 million will be provided to review and update curriculum and assessment resources across the TAFE network. A range of building works will also be funded.<\/p>\n\n
And in the Victorian budget?<\/h2>\n