VET & TAFE
campusreview.com.au
The invisible
sector
VET is crucial for a skilled
national workforce, but it was
largely ignored in the federal
election campaign; a proper
review can change that.
M mitchell_johnm
By John Mitchell
D
espite the crisis in the sector, VET didn’t gain much
traction as an election issue in the recent federal
campaign. Most of the media focus was directed
towards issues such as the future of Medicare, proposed tax
cuts for business, and changes to superannuation and negative
gearing. Within the field of education, schools gained more
attention in the campaign period than VET or higher education,
with the Gonski reforms winning considerable media coverage.
Of the two major parties, Labor tabled many more VET
policies than the Coalition, but even the numerous Labor
policy initiatives failed to elevate the sector into a prominent
position. The question then arises: if VET’s current crisis and
scandals don’t stir the media and voters, just what would rouse
their interest?
The crisis in the sector extends far beyond the scandalous
wastage of taxpayers’ funds in the VET FEE-HELP scheme.
Overall, funding has declined year after year over the last
decade, while in recent years, apprenticeship commencement
numbers have plummeted, non-completion rates for many
courses – particularly those involving online learning – have
been alarming, poor quality training has been highlighted in
numerous government reports and the ability of the national
regulator to eliminate fraudulent operators has been called
into doubt.
Meanwhile, state governments are putting the future of
TAFE at risk in order to secure Commonwealth funding that
encourages competition between public and private providers.
This chase for funds by state governments is not backed up, in
most states, by the implementation of suitable protections for
student consumers, who are regularly misled by rogue private
providers offering free iPads and other bribes.
NATIONAL MEDIA TRIED TO SHINE LIGHT
A range of media channels did try to bring the crisis
in VET to the public’s attention. One example was the
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