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Articles on TAFE

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With TAFE education under a cloud, the future of VET funding is vitally important. AAP/Julian Smith

VET funding can’t be fixed by sidelining TAFE

A leaked paper suggests that the federal government should take over funding VET courses. But it’s a path we should tread with great caution.
Deregulating TAFE would have serious impacts for the labour market. from www.shutterstock.com

Deregulating TAFE is a big risk to the labour market

The risks posed by deregulating the vocational education and training sector have serious impacts for large sections of the labour market.
Waiting for the bleep … how did your results go? from www.shutterstock.com

My ATAR is too low, what do I do now?

Don’t panic if you didn’t get the school results you wanted – here’s what to do.
NSW Deputy Premier and Nationals leader Troy Grant kicked off his party’s election campaign launch on March 15 by speaking in Wiradjuri. Nikki Short/AAP

Wiradjuri words show the power of learning Australia’s first languages

NSW Nationals’ leader Troy Grant has broken new ground by speaking Wiradjuri in parliament and at his party’s election launch – and it reflects a growing Indigenous language revival in NSW.
Private training organisations have been mired in controversy over sub-standard courses and unscrupulous methods to attract students. Here’s how they’re failing the system. Shutterstock

Privatisation of vocational education isn’t working

Recent weeks have seen various horror stories of the workings of dodgy private providers of vocational education and training, including the latest: a recall of certificates due to concerns of sub-par standards in these institutions.
A lack of female tradies means young women don’t want to pursue a trade career, despite the pay advantage. Shutterstock

Where are the female tradies?

Male domination of trades and trade courses in the automotive, construction, mining and energy sectors is entrenched above 95%, despite the substantial pay advantage compared to other trades such as hairdressing…
Vocational education is underfunded, understood by too few, and too specific to allow students to go on to further education. Shutterstock

Vocational training is too complex, too job-specific, too underfunded

The Australian government is reviewing vocational education and training qualifications. The aim is to streamline a system that has educators, employers and government baffled by its complexity. The government…
It’s rare that TAFE becomes a big election issue, but this is what has just happened in Victoria – giving new Premier Daniel Andrews a mandate to save TAFEs. AAP

Learning from Victoria’s TAFE mistakes

In the 40 years since its inception, rarely has TAFE featured as a central platform on which political parties win or lose votes. As such it seldom rates mentions in political campaigns as a distinct sector…
Complaints of dodgy providers of vocational education and training in aged care and child care show something has to be done to regulate private providers. Shutterstock

Not all vocational training providers are stacking up

Vocational education and training is crucial to developing the skills of the workforce, but the quality of training and development is under question, and it is a problem – a major problem. Public TAFE…
Funding of vocational education is suffering given neither the state nor Federal government has sole responsibility. Shutterstock

Renewing federalism: our tertiary education system needs a rethink

The reform of Australia’s federation is under review. In this special series, we ask leading Australian academics to begin a debate on renewing federalism, from tax reform to the broader issues of democracy…
Changes to the regulation of Vocational Education and Training are good, but they ignore the real problem, that the sector is chronically underfunded. Shutterstock

Reforms to VET are a good thing, but nowhere near enough

After announcing a slew of changes to vocational education and training (VET) earlier in the week, Industry Minister Ian MacFarlane made further changes yesterday to the regulation of the sector. While…
Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Industry Minister Ian MacFarlane have unveiled their plan for Vocational Education and Training - but do they really know what they’re doing or should they leave it to the States? AAP

Changes to VET might be good for business, but not for students

Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Industry Minister Ian MacFarlane yesterday announced funding to engage young people in education and employment, and reforms of apprenticeship support services. This announcement…
TAFE hasn’t been very competitive since the vocational education sector opened up to more private and non-TAFE providers. AAP

TAFE in crisis? No, but the future is changing for vocational education

Since their inception in 1974, Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions have been the major providers of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Australia. This may not be the case in the…
There’s a unique opportunity to reform the VET sector. AAP

Repurposing TAFE

Within a few months of coming to office the Abbott government established a Vocational and Education and Training (VET) Reform Taskforce. Over the past two years there have been three separate parliamentary…
Last week’s wholesale sackings of TAFE leaders is just another chapter in the chaotic story of the vocational reforms. AAP Image/Joe Castro

Excuses for heavy-handed TAFE sackings don’t hold up

On the eve of Good Friday, in apparent attempt to bury a bad news story, the Victorian government sacked seven of the chairs of its 14 standalone TAFEs and two more were to “retire”. These sackings came…
The announcement this week of funding for Victorian TAFEs won’t make up for previous cuts. AAP Image/Julian Smith

Napthine falls short: TAFE needs more than a bandaid

There might be a new premier in Victoria, but it seems there’s still no good news for TAFEs. The $200 million in structural adjustment funding announced this week is certainly welcome, but it is simply…
We won’t realise the impact of state cuts to vocational education for many years. AAP/Joe Castro

The neglected sector: the year that changed TAFE in Australia

This year, the majority of TAFEs across the country have been threatened by state government changes to the sector. In New South Wales and Victoria, vocational education has seen institutional closures…
The TAFE sector has faced cuts, but it may be our best way of addressing the skills shortage. AAP/April Fonti

TAFE helps skills shortage more than private providers

The Vocational Education and Training sector (VET) is doing more to address Australia’s skills shortage than private providers, according to a new paper from the Centre for Policy Development. The paper’s…

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