The Andrews Labor Government’s record investment in training and TAFE is having a huge effect, with TAFE’s market share growing by more than five per cent in the first six months of 2016.
Student satisfaction with training is also turning around, in line with the Labor Government’s crackdown on dodgy providers.
The Victorian Training Market Half Year Report 2016 released today by the Department of Education and Training shows enrolments at Victorian TAFEs are stabilising after years of free-fall under the Liberals.
The data shows an overall decline in training numbers which started in 2013 under the Liberals. That’s why the Labor Government is implementing Skills First from 2017, to restore stability and sustainability to the sector.
Traditional apprenticeships in the construction field grew by 4.8 per cent in the six months to June thanks to the Labor Government’s focus on getting more Victorians back into training.
The report also highlights the unprecedented compliance action the Department has undertaken since the Labor Government launched a quality crackdown on poor quality providers.
Between January and November this year, the Department performed close to 500 quality and performance reviews, up from 136 the year before. They also interviewed more than 470 students, up from 128 in 2015.
As a result of these investigations and reviews, 21 training contracts were terminated in 2016 worth $22 million in taxpayer money. The impact can be seen in the student survey results in the report, showing the share of students satisfied with training increasing by four per cent, following years of decline under the Liberals.
The Training Market Report follows new data released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research which shows Victoria as the only state to increase the share of students who were satisfied with the overall quality of training.
Victoria was the also only state to record an increase in the share of students with an improved chance of employment after training. Victoria now has the highest share of any state at 56.2 per cent.
For the first time, the data used in the report is drawn from national data compiled by NCVER – something the Labor Government promised to do to reduce duplication and potential confusion.
Quotes attributable to Minister of Training and Skills Gayle Tierney
"We’ve spent every day of the last two years making sure we have a strong TAFE system in Victoria. Today’s report shows that after years of cuts by the Liberals, our TAFEs are starting to recover.”
“Like other states and territories, we’re still seeing a decline in training numbers. This is because of the damage caused by Federal Government taking so long to fix its failed VET FEE-HELP debacle.”
“I’ve been so impressed with the communities I’ve visited who want to rebuild TAFE. It’s because Victorians have spoken so loudly in support of TAFE that we’ve spent every day of the last two years strengthening it.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020