Vocational training generates great outcomes, but risks falling into decline without agreement from COAG ministers, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said today.
To coincide with the meeting of the COAG Industry and Skills Council on 24 November 2017, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry released its assessment of the Vocational Education and Training system using one of the most recognised business tools for strategic review – SWOT analysis – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.
Director of Employment, Education and Training at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jenny Lambert said, “Vocational education and training offers great job outcomes and employers are overwhelmingly satisfied with the quality of graduates.
“However, we have seen federal and state governments reduce their funding over the past five years and the system creates confusion and incoherence between jurisdictions. There has been a dramatic fall in apprentice and trainee numbers we urgently need to address.
“COAG ministers must finalise the Skilling Australians Fund agreements and establish a national industry advisory body for apprenticeships in order to ensure that the government’s target of creating 300,000 apprenticeships can be reached.
“If we are going to meet the targets to restore apprenticeship numbers, we also need a national campaign to promote apprenticeships to employers, students and job seekers. The Federal Assistant Minister Karen Andrews has made a good start with an underpinning message of ‘real skills for real careers’, but it needs to be backed up by a campaign to reach every employer and potential apprentice.
“Over the longer term, we need to sort out the roles of the federal government and the states and territories to create a system that is easy for employers and students to understand and use.
‘If COAG ministers cannot agree to take action, we risk the best aspects of our vocational education and training system – its links to real jobs and great job outcomes.
“If we don’t get vocational education and training right, we could face skills shortages in key industries and occupations that would hurt our economy.”
Read the Vocational Education and Training SWOT analysis 2017.