The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education, and Training has presented the report of its inquiry into the Perceptions and Status of Vocational Education and Training.

Media release issue date: Monday, 25 March 2024

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education, and Training has today presented the report of its inquiry into the perceptions and status of vocational education and training (VET). Committee Chair, Ms Lisa Chesters MP, said ‘high-quality VET is crucial to skilling Australians for an increasingly dynamic economy and labour market. Unfortunately, many people do not fully understand the VET sector or the careers to which it leads, and many still consider VET a less valuable or rewarding pathway compared to university’. 'Governments at all levels must ensure access to reliable, accurate information on VET and actively promote the sector and the fantastic opportunities that it offers, Ms Chesters said. ‘However, information and marketing efforts will not on their own be sufficient to address negative perceptions of VET’, Ms Chesters said. ‘Tangible improvements to the sector must also be made to ensure the quality and relevance of training, and that the sector is subject to robust regulatory, governance, and funding arrangements.' The Committee has made 34 recommendations designed to address poor perceptions of the sector and enhance the quality of and access to VET pathways. These include: Significantly overhaul the functions of the National Careers Institute. Developing a national careers education strategy for secondary schools. Improving VET delivered to secondary school students via cooperative partnerships and increased school funding. Rationalising the development and implementation of VET qualifications. Addressing systemic barriers to women’s participation in VET, with a focus on eliminating gender-based violence and workplace discrimination and challenging gender stereotypes. Enhancing apprenticeships, including by piloting a network of industry-led apprenticeship support providers, lifting pay and conditions, and exploring new apprenticeship pathways. Creating a robust framework for developing, implementing, and funding micro-credentials. Implementing measures to attract and retain a VET workforce with industry expertise and a greater range of pedagogical competencies. Defining a clear roadmap to a genuinely integrated tertiary education system. The Committee’s report was informed by other reform processes including the Employment White Paper, the National Skills Agreement, and the Australian Universities Accord. The Committee’s recommendations should be considered alongside the findings of these reports. The report and further information about the inquiry is available on the inquiry website. Media inquiries Ms Lisa Chesters MP, Chair Korey Fernando, Media Adviser korey.fernando@aph.gov.au (03) 5443 9055 For background information Committee Secretariat (02) 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training continues to hold public hearings for its inquiry into the perceptions and status of vocational education and training (VET).

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 24 May 2023

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training continues to hold public hearings for its inquiry into the perceptions and status of vocational education and training (VET). “The Committee is approaching the end of the public hearings for this inquiry,” said Ms Lisa Chesters MP, Committee Chair. “As part of today’s hearings, the Committee will hear from the National Rugby League about its role in addressing negative perceptions of VET through the NRL-VET program.” “The hearings will also examine student experiences of VET with witnesses from the Monash Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice, Australian Industry Group and the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia,” Ms Chesters said. More information on the inquiry, including the full terms of reference and details on upcoming public hearings, can be found on the Committee website. Public hearing details Date: Wednesday 24 May 2023 Time: 11.00 am to 1.00 pm Location: Committee Room 1S5 The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Media inquiries Ms Lisa Chesters MP, Chair Korey Fernando, Media Adviser korey.fernando@aph.gov.au (03) 5443 9055 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track this Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training is holding the first public hearing for its inquiry into the perceptions and status of VET.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 21 March 2023

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training is holding the first public hearing for its inquiry into the perceptions and status of VET. Ms Lisa Chesters MP, Committee Chair, said, “The Committee is commencing its hearings for this important inquiry by hearing from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and Jobs and Skills Australia.’ Ms Chesters said “The Department has responsibility for the Commonwealth skills and training portfolio, and these hearings will provide the Committee with the opportunity to understand and examine the current policy environment before hearing from other stakeholders at future hearings.” The Committee will seek to hold further public hearings over the coming months, with groups and organisations including National Rugby League, TAFE Directors Australia, the Australian Education Union, education peak bodies, employer groups, unions, academics and others. Details of these public hearings will be posted on the Committee website when available. More information on the inquiry, including the full terms of reference and details on making a submission, can be found on the Committee website. Media inquiries Ms Lisa Chesters MP, Chair Erin Auld, Media Adviser Erin.auld@aph.gov.au (03) 5443 9055 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training is currently examining the perceptions and status of vocational education and training (VET).

Media release issue date: Thursday, 9 February 2023

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training is currently examining the perceptions and status of vocational education and training (VET). Ms Lisa Chesters MP, Committee Chair, reminded interested stakeholders that submissions to the inquiry remain open for another few weeks. Education and training choices of students, as well as employer views and practices are some among the matters being considered. Ms Chesters said “The Committee recognises the importance of the VET sector and hopes that this inquiry will identify ways to improve perceptions and opportunities available to students.” The Committee is interested in hearing from anyone with a view to share, whether from potential students, employers, parents, career advisers, educators or industry bodies and unions. Submissions to the inquiry close on 1 March 2023. Comments are welcome on one or more of the terms of references. More information on the inquiry, including the full terms of reference and details on making a submission, can be found on the Committee website. Media inquiries Ms Lisa Chesters MP, Chair Erin Auld, Media Adviser Erin.auld@aph.gov.au (03) 5443 9055 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track this Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training has launched an inquiry into the perceptions and status of vocational education and training (VET) in Australia.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 1 December 2022

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training has launched an inquiry into the perceptions and status of vocational education and training (VET) in Australia. ‘Australia is currently facing a critical skills shortage in many sectors of the economy. The VET sector is central to ensuring that people have access to secure work and that employers have access to the skills they need to run and expand their businesses,’ said Lisa Chesters MP, Committee Chair. ‘This inquiry will examine the choices of Australian students, employers and educators, and investigate ways to improve the perceptions of the VET sector and its role in providing opportunities for Australians from all walks of life,’ Ms Chesters said. ‘The Committee encourages submissions from anyone interested in this issue, including potential students, employers, parents, educators, and industry bodies and unions.’ More information on the inquiry, including the full terms of reference and details on making a submission, can be found on the Committee website. Media inquiries Ms Lisa Chesters MP, Chair Erin Auld, Media Adviser Erin.auld@aph.gov.au (03) 5443 9055 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.