Search Results
-
Federal Budget: TAFE at the heart of Labor’s economic plan?
To understand the complete picture of what the Federal Labor Government has promised for TAFE and vocational education and training, you need to look at Labor’s election Plan for the Future, the outcomes of the Jobs and Skills Summit and now the Federal Budget. Continue reading »
-
We still have a chaotic VET system
The Federal Budget has identified the need for increased skilled workers as a critical area. In analysing some of the Budget’s promises and what commentators had to say, it appears there is a lot more to be done. Continue reading »
-
Made in Australia: will Labor get the job done with free TAFE?
Vocational education needs investment and reforms to ensure Australia’s prosperity: Anthony Albanese has revealed how Labor will meet the challenge. Continue reading »
-
Is equity on the Federal Government’s training agenda?
Is equity on the Federal Government’s training agenda? As the Government continues to make changes to vocational education and training resulting from economic issues highlighted by the current pandemic, the question arises as to whether educational opportunities and funding are being equitably applied. Continue reading »
-
If there is no crisis in VET, why is it so difficult to tackle “acknowledged weaknesses”?
How does the Productivity Commission see vocational education and training: is it about quality training needed now by employers and employees and provided by TAFE during the Covid-19 pandemic, or about a competitive training market? Continue reading »
-
TAFE has been drained of funds for poorly performing and dodgy private providers
What a difference there is between the public vocational education and training provider, TAFE, and private for-profit training providers. Continue reading »
-
LINDA SIMON. VET system a dud? I don’t think so.
The VET system has again been criticised by the Government, this time by the Prime Minister in his recent address to the National Press Club, when he referred to it as a ‘dud’ system. Continue reading »
-
LINDA SIMONS. Now is the time to support the public provider of VET
The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised the importance of strong public institutions in Australia, both to help deal with critical health and economic challenges, and to make sure all Australian residents are given opportunities to be part of the economic recovery. This is particularly true of public vocational education and training, TAFE. Continue reading »
-
LINDA SIMON. More than a vision is needed for vocational education and training
National Skills Week 2019 recognised that more than just words were needed from Australian governments. The recent COAG meeting produced a vision for the VET sector, and whilst a cohesive vision is important, it means nothing unless backed up with additional funding for a sector that has been undermined for over a decade. Industry groups Continue reading »
-
LINDA SIMON. More of the same in VET or a new vision?
Vocational education and training does not always feature strongly during Federal election campaigns. But given the critical state of the sector, both major parties have announced early on the directions they will pursue if elected. For the Government this is based on their recent expert review of VET ‘Strengthening Skills’, from which a number of Continue reading »
-
LINDA SIMON. NSW election candidates Stand Up for TAFE
NSW goes to the polls on 23 March and the outcome is not clear at this time. There are many programs being highlighted and funding promised by the major parties, with TAFE an area of concern. The TAFE Community Alliance asked candidates to ‘Stand Up for TAFE’ and were overwhelmed with the strength of the Continue reading »
-
Review Lite for VET! – What happened to the Royal Commission?
Under the pressure of an upcoming Federal election and little action taken to address ongoing issues in the vocational education and training sector, in November 2018 the Prime Minister announced a review into VET. The review was to be undertaken by a New Zealander with a report due in March 2019. One suspects this is Continue reading »
-
LINDA SIMON. When will students get their money back?
How many students have been the victims of the VET FEE-HELP rorts? The Government doesn’t know the answer to this question, nor how much it may cost to waive such debts. New legislation being introduced to Federal Parliament seeks to make it easier for students who have suffered due to the inappropriate conduct of their Continue reading »
-
LINDA SIMON. Falling enrolments in TAFE! How can this be?
The latest NCVER report shows that TAFE enrolments 2016-17 have fallen by 6.5% and government-funded VET programs by 5.9%, with the greatest fall in NSW of 6.8%. This blog is a commentary on some of the reasons why this has occurred which focus on cuts to funding for the VET sector and poor public policy Continue reading »
-
LINDA SIMON. TAFE upfront in Shorten’s Budget speech in reply.
Whilst the Government’s 2018 Federal Budget failed to recognise the importance of TAFE and skills development to Australia’s economy, TAFE and funding were upfront in the Labor Opposition’s speech in reply. Labor has put TAFE back as the centrepiece of national skills training, promising to scrap upfront fees for 100,000 TAFE students as part of its Continue reading »
-
LINDA SIMON. A Royal Commission for the finance sector? What about VET?
The stories of vulnerable people being deceived through corrupt practices in the financial services sector are currently part of a Royal Commission. But surely of no less concern are those stories that continue to be highlighted around students being left with enormous debts and no training due to some corrupt government funded training providers. Do Continue reading »
-
LINDA SIMON. What has happened to enrolments in the TAFE sector?-The creeping commercialisation of education.- A REPOST from October 6 2017
Enrolments in the TAFE sector have dropped in many qualifications. Tracing the reasons for this change at a time when Australia needs more skilled technicians and paraprofessionals is complex. They appear to be tied to the overall changes in funding of tertiary education, the increase in student fees as well as the status of the Continue reading »
-
Productivity Commission shirks real problems in VET
The Productivity Commission has undertaken a five year review of Australia’s productivity performance, identifying skills and the VET sectors as an area of concern. But have they got the answers? Continue reading »
-
LINDA SIMON. Axing access and equity in VET!
The axing of TAFE NSW Outreach programs as part of a current restructure process, highlights the importance of these programs to individuals and the community. It also raises the issue as to VET’s role in delivering access and equity programs and why governments should make them a priority. Continue reading »
-
LINDA SIMON. A crisis approach to reform in the VET sector
Many of us who write about vocational education and training (VET) are asked not to use the word ‘crisis’ as it undermines confidence in the system. Unfortunately it will take a lot more than a change of language to restore consumer confidence, as private training providers continue their financial collapse and students are left stranded. Continue reading »
-
LINDA SIMON.The future of VET remains uncertain!
The 2017 Federal Budget provided little new funding for vocational education and training, with its main focus the Skilling Australians Fund. This Fund appears to only exacerbate the uncertain future of the VET sector with its narrow student application, dependence on revenue generation and outcomes focus. Continue reading »
-
LINDA SIMON. NO quorum at COAG! Who cares about VET?
Linda Simon says that the vocational education and training (VET) system in Australia has faced many challenges over a number of years, including cuts to funding, lack of government attention and a system that has enabled students to be rorted by unscrupulous providers. Yet, current events and processes do not give one confidence that this Continue reading »
-
LINDA SIMON. CEDA joins call for urgent VET Review
The Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) has released a report into aspects of vocational education and training (VET) in Australia. The report is entitled ‘VET: securing skills for growth’ and makes a number of recommendations including the need for COAG to “undertake a long-overdue comprehensive, national review of the sector that aims Continue reading »
-
LINDA SIMON. Australian VET in crisis! Are there lessons to be learned from the UK?
For some the crisis in vocational education and training (VET) and the fate of TAFE was a critical issue in the recent Australian Federal elections. For others it hardly made the radar. Unfortunately a number of those others included members of the re-elected Federal Government. Karen Andrews is now the fifth Minister or Assistant Continue reading »
-
LINDA SIMON. The national scandal in Vocational Education and Training (VET).
Redesigning VET FEE-HELP In late April the Federal Government released a discussion paper entitled ‘Redesigning VET FEE-HELP’. It had become apparent that continuing legislative changes put through the Federal Parliament were not enough to prevent the behaviour of some private training providers. The most recent of those changes was in January this year when the Continue reading »
-
LINDA SIMON. Do the Parties really care about vocational education and training (VET) these elections?
National TAFE Day was celebrated on June 16 this year, a little over two weeks before the Federal elections. Both Labor and the Greens took the opportunity to restate their support for TAFE and launch further policies. However the Government’s media release from Senator Scott Ryan, Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, focused only Continue reading »
-
Is this the vocational education and training system we need?
Hearing or reading about vocational education and training (VET) today, we expect it to be another story of rorts and wrongdoings. And it is an horrific story, a story of for-profit private providers accessing public funding and not delivering the education and training students expected. It is a story of a number of private providers Continue reading »
