More Koorie students taking on training
The number of Koorie students undertaking vocational education and training (VET) has grown by as much as 30 per cent since the introduction of the Victorian Training Guarantee.
Higher Education and Skills Minister Peter Hall, who today presented 10 recipients with a Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated Wurreker Award, said Koorie student regional VET enrolment had increased by 31 per cent compared to the same time last year, with metropolitan areas seeing an 18 per cent increase.
The Wurreker Awards, which acknowledge personal and organisational achievements, are held annually to celebrate the success of the Koorie community in the training sector highlighting how high quality training can enhance opportunities for Koorie people.
“Much of this enrolment growth has been in higher level qualifications, in areas including automotive, transport, community services, health, and professional services,” Mr Hall said.
“We’re also seeing more Koorie students taking up apprenticeships and traineeships with enrolments more than doubling between 2010 and 2012 in areas such as plumbing, carpentry, automotive, engineering and hospitality.
“There has also been a 60 per cent increase over the past year in Koorie students taking on foundation courses that serve as the building blocks for further learning.
“Since the introduction of the Wurreker strategy, Koorie training enrolments have increased by more than a third.”
Mr Hall said the Victorian Training Guarantee was making vocational education and training more accessible to people who do not hold a post-school qualification or who want to gain a higher level qualification.
“The Victorian Coalition Government is determined to ensure that all Victorians can access first-class, high quality training in skills shortage areas, so they can graduate with both a qualification and a real chance of finding meaningful employment,” Mr Hall said.
“The Coalition Government has committed an additional $1 billion over four years to support a strong, sustainable, efficient and market-driven vocational education and training system.”
A National Centre for Vocational Education Research report released last Friday confirmed that Victoria invests more in vocational education and training than any other state in Australia.
“Victoria provided a third of all state and territory investment in training delivery and support in 2011 and provides a million more subsidised enrolments in vocational education than any other State,” Mr Hall said.
For a full list of all Wurreker Award winners see attached list.
