VET News

Generational Changes in VET are 'A Big Piece' of The Pie in 2021

The Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon. Scott Morrison, this week gave an address at the National Press Club in Barton, ACT.   The address focused on 5 priority areas in relation to moving ahead into 2021 namely:

• Suppress the virus and deliver the vaccine
• Cement Australia's economic recovery to create jobs and more jobs
• Continue to guarantee the essential services that Australians rely on
• Protect and secure Australians' interests in a challenging world, and
• Care for our country 

The Prime Minister highlighted the strength of the Australian people throughout the pandemic stating that with more than 90% of the jobs lost already back, the Australian comeback has not just begun, it is gathering pace. 

Speaking of the virus and the COVID-19 vaccine roll out, the Prime Minister said "Our aim is to offer all Australians the opportunity to be vaccinated by October of this year, commencing in just a few weeks' time."

The Australian Government has provided priority vaccine roll out information outlining the country’s vaccination priorities.  Teachers and trainers, however, are not formally identified as an occupational group.   

Whilst front-line workers operating across our essential services include those working in education, given that the VET sector is dependent upon training its learners, apprentices and trainees, either in whole or in part, within a workplace environment, this pandemic has had a direct impact on learners not being able to fully achieve the reason they entered training for.  

Whilst we have yet to see where those working within the VET sector will fit into the priority roll out schedule, the Prime Minister stated that 2021 will be a year of generational change in our skills and vocation education sector.

"This is a big piece." the Prime Minister said. "It includes:

• $4 billion to help employers retain and take on new apprentices and trainees through wage subsidies, with support for up to 100,000 new apprentices.
• Our national $1 billion JobTrainer Fund is providing over 300,000 training places to help reskill workers for the COVID recovery.
• A new skills agreement to provide more transparency and better link funding to actual skills needs will be done this year."

"We are also providing for up to 30,000 more university places and 50,000 more short courses this year." the Prime Minister continued.   

Additionally, as of 1 February 2021, the first round of claims for the JobMaker hiring credit, an incentive launched as part of the 2020 Budget, can be lodged.

As we wait to see, across the coming weeks and months, the outcomes of the vaccine roll-out and how the priority groups evolve as we move further into 2021, there is hope for us all working within vocational education and training as it continues to be a major contributing sector to Australia's economic recovery.

Click the links below for some further information regarding the government's funding incentives and agreements:

• Skills and Workforce Development Agreement Media Release - Australian Government Productivity Commission - 21 January 2021 
• Providing the Skills Australians Need To Ge t a Job - Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator, the Hon. Michaelia Cash - 6 October 2020
• JobTrainer Package Announced - Department for Education, Skills and Employment - 6 July 2020

Date posted Feb 4, 2021