Standing Committee on Employment, Education
and Workplace Relations
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Submission 97
DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, TRAINING AND YOUTH AFFAIRS
16 - 18 Mort Street,
GPO Box 9880
Canberra ACT 2601 Tel: (06) 240 8111
Thankyou for your letter dated 7 April 1998, regarding DEETYA's appearance
before the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment,
Education and Training on 2 April 1998.
In relation to questions placed on notice the following answers are
provided:
Ref: EET 679 - Registration of Training Providers
Dr Nelson asked for details on the accreditation of non- TAFE providers
and what role the Commonwealth plays in making sure accreditation standards
are acceptable.
The Australian Recognition Framework (implemented from l January 1998)
provides national principles, standards and protocols which apply to all
organisations (including TAFEs) seeking registration to deliver vocational
education and training services and products. The Framework will ensure
that training organisations meet high standards and that skills and qualifications
are recognised across Australia. Attached is a copy of the Australian
Recognition Framework Arrangements document which provides details.
Organisations apply for registration through a State or Territory Training/Recognition
Authority. The Authority conducts the registration in accordance with
the Australian Recognition Framework Arrangements.
The Australian Recognition Framework is an initiative achieved through
the Australian National Training Authority Ministerial Council. The Commonwealth
chairs the Council and has been involved closely in the development of
the Framework at the Ministerial and officer level. The Commonwealth is
also represented on the National Training Framework Committee which has
responsibility for monitoring the operation of the Australian Recognition
Framework.
The State and Territory Training/Recognition Authorities are responsible
for administering registration arrangements and individual registration
decisions are not subject to scrutiny at the national level.
Ref: EET 680 - Representation on the ANTA Board
Dr Nelson asked "...should the TAFE providers be represented on the
ANTA Board? Could you give us an explanation as to wily you have the vied'
that you do? Secondly, should students be represented on the ANTA Board
and, similarly, why or why not?
Under the provisions of the Australian National Training Authority
Act 1992, the Ministerial Council determines the membership of the
ANTA Board. The Act does not define specific representation; it leaves
it open for the Ministerial Council collectively to nominate members for
appointment by the Governor-General.
When the Board was established under the original ANTA Agreement in 1992,
State and Territory Governments and the Commonwealth agreed that it should
create a mechanism for industry leadership of the vocational education
and training sector.
This has been reaffirmed in the revised ANTA Agreement, endorsed by the
Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers responsible for vocational
education and training.
Ref: EET 680 - VET in Schools
Dr Nelson asked "Should schools in fact be financed from a pool of
money made available to them by the Commonwealth to contract VET from
TAFEs?"
The Government has made available a package of finding measures to promote
effective and reliable pathways for students from schooling to employment.
Funds are being used to support programmes for school students which combine
study towards a senior secondary certificate with nationally recognised,
accredited, vocational education and training, with particular emphasis
being given to increasing New Apprenticeship opportunities.
The 1996/97 Budget provided a comprehensive and integrated package of
measures to support the expansion of vocational education in schools.
Funding of $l87m over four years was announced, which included the initiatives
set out in Attachment A.
The ANTA funds mentioned in the attachment are distributed to the State
and Territory education authorities, both government and non-government.
Grants allocated though the ASTF and the strategic component of the School
to Work Programme are bid for on a submission or action plan basis and
are allocated to further the development of vocational education in schools.
The Commonwealth's support for the ongoing recurrent costs of VET in
schools is through general recurrent grants to States and Territories
and school systems. While some school systems have arrangements to purchase
training from TAFEs, this is a matter for the school systems.
A Greer
First Assistant Secretary
Vocational Education and Training Division
30 April 1998
ATTACHMENT A
Australian Student Traineeship Foundation (ASTF) - ($40m + $38m)
The Budget maintained ASTF's funding of $9.901 m each financial year
for its core operations - approximately $40m over four years. It also
provided increased funding of $7.5m in 1996-97 and $10m in subsequent
years for the ASTF to introduce work placement coordinators ($37.5m
over four years).
Jobs Pathway Programme (JPP) - ($6m)
The Budget announced an expansion of JPP in 1996-97 and 1997-98 with
funds totalling nearly $6 million to be expended.
An additional $13.5m is being provided for JPP to continue in
1998-99.
Expansion of Vocational Education and Training in Schools - ANTA -
($80m)
The ANTA Ministerial Council has agreed to provide $80m, $20 million
in each year of the four calendar years 1997-2000, to State Training Authorities
for allocation to school authorities. Funds will be allocated on a quarterly
basis and particularly focus on introducing New Apprenticeships in schools.
School to Work Program - ($23m)
The School to Work Programme provides $23.09m in funding over four years
for vocational education in schools. About two-thirds of the funds are
allocated each year to State and Territory education authorities for the
development and implementation of programmes which enable industry and
VET personnel to deliver VET courses in schools.
Education authorities were given some flexibility to use their
1996-97 allocation to upgrade teacher skills. This provided education
authorities with some lead time in which to develop programmes which provide
skills for industry personnel to assist them teach in schools.
The remaining one-third of the funds are being directed to strategic
projects to support the expansion of VET in schools and school to work
pathways.
In addition to the measures included in the Budget, the following initiatives
also support the expansion of vocational education in schools.
Enterprise Education
$3.2 m provided over 3 years from 1996/97 under the School to Work Programme.
The Enterprise Education Reference Group endorsed an all-purpose statement
and strategic plan for the development of Enterprise Education in Schools.
The DEETYA programme is complemented by the Department of Industry, Science
and Technology (DIST) Enterprise Education initiatives. DIST has $2.4m
over 3 years from 1996/97 for Enterprise Education, and will be particularly
supporting initiatives through School-Industry links.
Regional Skills Centres - (ANTA)
The ANTA Ministerial Council has agreed to allocate $5m in 1997 for regional
Skill Centres to support vocational education in schools through a small
number of pilot capital projects, which are expected to be negotiated
with State/Territory Training Authorities and selected schools, industry
or regional development organisations. Proposals will relate to the establishment
of new Centres or the expansion of existing Centres.
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