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| The Hon Gary Hardgrave MP with CEO of VECCI Neil Coulson |
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On 25th November 2004 the VECCI Employment Education and Training Industry Policy Taskforce conducted a major Vocational Education and Training (VET) forum, which coincided with the return of the Howard government and the announcement of new policies on vocational education and training, including the appointment of a new Minister for Vocational and Technical Education. The new Minister Gary Hardgrave provided his keynote speech at this Forum in one of his first major public appearances.
VET stakeholders were keen to hear the latest about the new policies of the Commonwealth Government which will have significant implications for responses to skill shortages, ageing workforce impact and the take-up of traditional trade apprenticeships and other VET pathways. The Minister addressed the Forum reinforcing that:
- Vocational training remains a top priority of the Australian Government
- New measures will inject $1.06 billion into training over the next 4 years
- An Australian Network of Industry Careers Advisers will be created to extend existing career advice and work experience arrangements to support better transitions to education, training and work for young people.
Specific measures addressed by the Minister at the Forum included:
- From 1 July next year ANTA's functions will transfer to the Department of Education, Science and Training. The advances made possible by ANTA will now be built upon, giving the highest priority to ensuring we have an industry-led system and a truly national system.
- 24 Australian Technical Colleges will be established in strong partnerships with local communities, education providers and industry.
- An industry led Australian Institute of Trade Skill Excellence will be established with the key objective of putting in place strategies to improve the quality of trade training, reward excellence in trade training, and elevate the status of trades and of trades education as a career choice.
- An Australian Network of Industry Careers Advisers will be created to extend existing career advice and work experience arrangements to support better transitions to education, training and work for young people.
The Government will also take measures to stimulate apprenticeship take-up such as:
- extending the Incentives available for employers taking on a New Apprentice
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increasing availability of the Living Away From Home Allowance
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providing a Commonwealth Trade Learning Scholarship for eligible New Apprentices in skill shortage trades
Of special interest to many Victorian companies will also be the $200 million that will be available over 10 years to support the Skilling of Australia's Defence Industry.
The increased spending will be available for the skills development and training necessary to generate the 3,000 additional specialised positions expected to be needed to meet the increased expenditure on major defence capital equipment, and its maintenance, over the next 10 years
The Minister's presentation was complimented by 24 other speakers from a variety of sectors. Additionally as part of the Forum, participants engaged with presenters and worked alongside industry colleagues to identify issues and strategies for the skill requirements of businesses in the future. VECCI received a great deal of feedback that this Forum was very timely and highly relevant to the VET industry and broader training environment at this point in time.
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