Victorians will get the skills they need for good, secure jobs building our state and caring for our community, with the biggest change to TAFE and skills training in Victoria’s history.
The Andrews Labor Government’s record investment in major road and rail projects, new schools and hospitals, support for Victorians living with disability and historic action to curb family violence has created a massive demand for skilled workers across Victoria. At the same time, there are still too many Victorians without the training they need for a secure job.
More than ever, the skills required for these high-demand jobs are learned at TAFE. The Victorian Budget 2018/19 will give Victorians every tool they need to undertake a quality, accredited TAFE qualification, and get these good, skilled jobs building our state.
We know that the cost of training can act as a barrier to getting the right skills so this Budget breaks down that barrier. It invests $172 million to make 30 priority TAFE courses and 18 pre-apprenticeship courses in these growth industries free.
To make sure every Victorian who wants a job can get this free, quality training, the Budget also includes $303.8 million to create more than 30,000 new training places.
Apprenticeships will be modernised with $43.8 million to revamp learning materials, ensure consistent industry standards with new independent assessments, and bring back trade papers to recognise these qualifications.
TAFE campuses in regional Victoria will be upgraded to give Victorians the best facilities to learn their trade, with $35.5 million to transform Federation Training’s Morwell campus, $59.9 million for a new education precinct at the Bendigo Kangan Institute McCrae campus, and $25 million for a new Federation Training campus at Port of Sale in Gippsland.
The Budget also invests in the skills we need earlier, with the introduction of apprenticeships that can be finished at school, so young Victorians can graduate qualified and ready to work.
The new Head Start Apprenticeships and Traineeships program is a $49.8 million investment that will begin with 1,700 students at 100 Victorian government secondary schools. The program will give students the option to undertake an additional year of high school, and graduate with an apprenticeship or traineeship, ready to work in a high demand or high growth industry.
Career education in schools will also be overhauled with a $108.6 million investment to make sure students are getting expert advice to make the right choices earlier on.
Starting a year earlier, every Year 9 student will receive Professional Career Planning Services so they get relevant advice from experts about their career options. Students will also have a Careers e-Portfolio that they can add their work to and use to help them get a job, or go on to further study or training.
The Victorian Budget 2018/19 will transform skills training in our schools and TAFEs to help more Victorians get good, skilled jobs building our state and caring for our community.
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
"Across Victoria, TAFE-qualified Victorians are building our state, and caring for our loved ones. We’ll give every Victorian the opportunity to get new skills and secure a good job.”
“Not only are we investing in the projects our state needs, we’re investing in the people we need to deliver them.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney
“This is the biggest overhaul of TAFE, skills and training in Victoria’s history – it will make sure all Victorians can get the training they need for a good job, building our state.”
“We all know the Liberals slashed TAFE and closed campuses but this Budget continues Labor’s work to restore TAFE and make it stronger than ever.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino
“Employers want more skilled young people – that’s why we’re giving Victorian students the chance to get an apprenticeship or traineeship at school so they can finish qualified and ready to work.”
“We’re overhauling career education in schools to make sure our kids get expert advice earlier to help them make the right choices about their future.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020