An Albanese Labor Government will deliver secure, well-paid jobs, by investing in the skills Australia needs to drive future economic growth.
Labor will provide Australians access to Free TAFE, create more university places and tackle the skill shortages that are holding back our COVID-19 comeback.
Under Labor, Australians studying in an industry with a skills shortage will be supported through the provision of free TAFE.
Our $1.2 billion Future Made in Australia Skills Plan will focus on closing the gap on key areas of skills shortages with new places at university and TAFE.
This is good policy for jobs, good policy for people looking to train or retrain, and good policy for businesses, which need more skilled workers.
For nearly a decade, the Liberal-National Government has cut TAFE and slashed apprenticeships. Today we have 85,000 fewer apprenticeships and traineeships compared to 2013.
At the same time, it’s getting harder and more expensive to go to uni.
The proportion of applicants who get an offer of a place at university has fallen every year since the Liberal Government slashed university funding. This year, the offer rate fell to its lowest level in years.
This has happened in the face of the stark economic reality that nine out of ten jobs of the future will require a VET qualification or a university degree.
One in four Australian businesses are experiencing critical skills shortages at the same time there are 2 million Australians who are either looking for a job or want to work more hours.
Free TAFE
Free TAFE will help rebuild industries hit hardest by the pandemic, like hospitality and tourism, as well as meet current and future needs in the care economy, including jobs like child care, aged care, disability care, nursing and community services.
It will also provide more opportunities for apprentices and trainees. And fill skills shortage gaps like those in trades and construction, resources, digital and cyber security, new energy and advanced manufacturing.
Free TAFE will provide opportunities for school leavers, workers wanting to retrain or upskill, and unpaid carers – who are predominantly women – to get back into the workforce.
Under Labor’s plan for free TAFE, we will focus on those areas which are currently seeing a critical skills gap, because of the Morrison Government’s neglect.
Labor’s Future Made in Australia Skills Plan will close this gap, and boost these critical workforces by providing 465,000 Free TAFE places, including 45,000 new TAFE places.
Labor’s $50 million TAFE Technology Fund will improve IT facilities, workshops, laboratories and tele-health simulators across the country.
Additionally, Labor will work closely with industry and unions for opportunities which allow workers to transfer and build on their accredited micro credential training.
Labor is committed to investing in the jobs of the future which is why our $100 million New Energy Apprenticeships will encourage and support 10,000 apprentices to train in new energy jobs, and provide the additional support they need to complete their training.
While many states and territories have invested in the skills and training sector, the Morrison Government has neglected the backbone of our vocational educational system – public TAFE.
Labor will end privatisation by stealth – ensuring at least 70 per cent of Commonwealth vocational education funding is for public TAFE.
More university places
Labor’s Future Made in Australia Skills Plan will also deliver up to 20,000 new university places.
This will help fix areas of skills shortages and fill future skills needs by training Australians in jobs including engineering, nursing, tech, and teaching.
Places will also be prioritised for universities offering more opportunities for under-represented groups such as people in regional, remote and outer-suburban areas, those who are the first in their family to study at university, and First Nations Australians.
Our Year 12s have had the final school years from hell.
Our students didn’t ask for this significant disruption.
Labor’s commitment will help lighten the load for school leavers at a very stressful time.
Labor to cut funding to skills, only fund uni courses for two years
At a time when the Morrison Government is delivering record apprenticeships, record funding for VET and TAFE and uncapped university places, we now learn Labor has a plan to cut funding, cut skills training and restrict university places.
Anthony Albanese needs to explain to Australians today why his announcement doesn’t add up and actually represents a cut to skills and education.
Under Labor’s plan:
• They are only funding a limited number of university undergraduate degree places for two years when most run for three years. What happens to these places for the third year?
• They are cutting funding to VET and TAFE when the data shows the Morrison Government is investing record amounts of funding to get Australians skilled and into jobs.
Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business and Acting Minister for Education and Youth, Stuart Robert, said Australians can’t trust Labor when last time in government they slashed employer incentives by $1.2bn and saw the biggest fall in training commencements on record.
‘The Morrison Government is the best friend apprentices have ever had and now we know Labor will risk our economic recovery by slashing funding that is getting Australians skilled,’ Minister Robert said.
‘Under the Morrison Government, university places are uncapped and more Australians are studying than ever before—in fact, just this year there’s been a 5 per cent increase from last year.
‘The Morrison Government is already delivering $2b into VET skills through JobTrainer—and it’s working.
‘We’ve got the most trade apprentices working right now, more than ever before, because we’ve invested over $4b into boosting apprenticeships and ensuring Australians complete their apprenticeship.
‘So what Anthony Albanese has announced today is actually less money than what the Government is investing so Australians have a right to ask why Labor is cutting funding at a time we need skills the most.’
Focus on skills welcome but holistic approach must be taken
A commitment from the Federal Opposition to deliver an expansion of Vocational Education and Training and higher education will be critical in addressing acute skills shortages and drive productivity in the labour force.
“The policies announced by the Federal Opposition over the weekend are a positive step towards developing the workforce of the future,” ACCI chief executive Andrew McKellar said.
“Providing free TAFE courses and expanding university places are practical investments that will increase the number of trained workers who are available for skilled jobs. Increasing long-term funding in education is essential to creating a skilled workforce for a modern economy and increasing workplace productivity.
“Businesses right across the country are facing the worst skills shortage in more than two decades, which are only getting worse by the day. This commitment is a first step in growing our country’s skilled labour force and provides a pipeline of trained workers to meet future demand.
“While government-owned TAFE colleges play an important role, we urge the Federal Opposition to similarly support quality training delivered by both private and public education providers. It is only through choice that students and employers not only have access to the very best providers but also the one that most suits them.
“Further emphasis on apprenticeships is also needed from the Federal Opposition. We acknowledge the commitment for apprentices in new energy jobs but there are other sectors which also urgently need apprentices.
“The Boosting Apprenticeships Commencements program has been successful in reversing the fall in apprentice and trainee numbers. A commitment to continue the program at an effective level will give businesses greater confidence to take on new hires and grow Australia’s workforce.
“With our economic recovery contingent on enhancing workforce productivity, investment in education and training should grow the skilled workforce through a more holistic approach which recognises the benefits of private providers and includes more ambitious targets for apprenticeship numbers.
Industry invited to help shape landmark skills reforms
The Morrison Government is calling on industry and businesses to take a seat at the table as part of its fundamental overhaul of Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) system.
The Morrison Government is investing $292.5 million in new Industry Clusters —building on the record $6.4 billion investment made by the Morrison Government in skills and training this financial year. The reform will give industry a stronger, broader and more strategic role in ensuring the nation’s VET system can address skills and workforce challenges.
Interested organisations are encouraged to develop their applications for the grants now which will close on 31 March 2022.
Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, Stuart Robert, said broader skills reforms will play a key role in the Morrison Government’s economic recovery plan.
‘As our economy roars back we need a skills and training system that is well-positioned to meet our evolving workforce needs into the future,’ Minister Robert said.
‘That’s why we’re investing in new Industry Clusters that will strengthen employer leadership and engagement in the VET sector.
‘This will ensure courses and qualifications in the sector are driven by, and better meet, the needs of industry, as well as students.
‘I encourage all industry leaders with an interest in the future of our VET sector to work with your aligned industry sectors to develop an application.’
The new Industry Clusters model—as groups of aligned industries—will replace the 67 Industry Reference Committees and six Skills Service Organisations and are expected to be fully operational by 1 January 2023. The reforms will ensure courses and qualifications in the sector are driven by and better meet the needs of industry, as well as students.
More details can be found at: https://www.dese.gov.au/skills-reform/skills-reform-overview/industry-engagement-reforms
