Federal Budget forgot to put students at the heart of skills training – ITECA

BUDGET REACTION -- The 2024 Federal Budget has added considerable investment to address workforce skills shortages but represents “a missed opportunity” to put students at the heart of the skills training system. 

That’s the view of the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA), the peak body representing independent skills training, higher education, and international education providers.

“The Australian Government’s investment in skills training is broadly welcomed; however, more could have been done to put students at the heart of the skills training system,” ITECA chief executive Troy Williams said.

Key budget measures include continued funding for the five-year National Skills Agreement between the Australian, State and Territory governments.  This is the primary vehicle that taxpayers use to support students get the skills they need in critical areas. 

“The problem with this budget is that skills funding isn’t student centred,” Mr Williams said. “It fails to empower students with the opportunity to study with the provider that’s best able to help them achieve their life and career goals, whether that’s an independent training provider or a public TAFE college,” Mr Williams said.

The budget’s continued investment in Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) and the 10 new Jobs And Skills Councils (JSCs) has been welcomed by ITECA.

“Working together, JSA and the JSCs can take a considered approach to workforce planning to identify where future skills needs will be.  From there, it will be possible for the Australian Government to make considered decisions about future course demand and skills funding,” Mr Williams said.

He said ITECA would continue its advocacy to put students at the heart of the skills training system, where the Australian Government backs a student’s decision to study with either an independent Registered Training Organisation (RTO) or a public TAFE college.

Independent RTOs support 89.4 percentof the 4.5 million students in skills training according to data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).

About ITECA

Formed in 1992, the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA) is the peak body representing independent skills training, higher education, and international education providers. www.iteca.edu.au

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