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Workforce
Dual approach
Treasurer Jim Chalmers launches the Employment White Paper at Tonsley TAFE in SA . Picture : NCA Newswire / Emma Brasier
Employment white paper : VET and uni in alliance
By Erin Morley
The Australian government released their ‘ Working Future ’ employment white paper on September 25 ; a framework for creating strong employment and an inclusive labour market through a set roadmap of five objectives :
1 . Delivering sustained and inclusive full employment
2 . Promoting job security and strong , sustainable wage growth 3 . Reigniting productivity growth 4 . Filling skills needs and building our future workforce 5 . Overcoming barriers to employment and broadening opportunity
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government is delighted with the impact of fee-free TAFE , and it is part of the wider focus of bringing the university and vocational education and training ( VET ) sectors together to address the skills shortage in the workforce .
Some bachelor degrees will be provided by TAFE , which Education Minister Jason Clare said will make it easier for Australians to study and gain the skills they need to enter the workforce .
“ Six universities in Australia are dual sector universities , running TAFE courses and university courses at the same time ,” he said .
“ These higher apprenticeship degrees [ allow ] university level education with that practical experience embedded in .
“ When you look at the Jobs and Skills Agreement report and Universities Accord [ data ], there is a common theme that nine out of 10 jobs created in the next 10 years will require either TAFE or university .”
The Education Minister also said this alliance will encourage upskilling and re-skilling in the workforce , and could even lead to dual-courses that provide both university degree and TAFE qualification . The Minister for Skills and training ,
Brendan O ’ Connor , said sectors of
We want to help workers find great opportunities , and we want to help employers find great workers .
education need further opportunity for training , and that this was being addressed by increased fee-free TAFE spots .
“ As you know , at the Jobs and Skills Summit [ in early September ], we announced 180,000 fee-free VET and TAFE places ,” the Minister said .
“ We have exceeded that mark to 250,000 , and we are about to embark on another additional 300,000 places starting next year .” Mr O ’ Connor said the paper will benefit workers through addressing Australia ’ s skills crisis , which he said employers have been suffering the effects of for too long . “ We want to help workers find great opportunities , and we want to help employers find great workers ,” the Treasurer said . ■
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