Letter to the editor of Campus Review
10 August 2004
Skills planning in the Australian vocational education and training (VET) sector is a multi-layered process drawing on increasingly varied and complex sources of research data and information, rather than a “free market system” (Campus Review, 28-7-04).
ANTA makes no apology for industry advice about its needs being central to our planning.
The majority of VET participants are seeking vocational outcomes—a first career, a better career, or a new career—and it is our responsibility to provide them with the up-to-date skills industry wants.
We also have an economic and social responsibility to provide industry access to a skilled workforce to support ongoing growth and competitiveness. However, contrary to the reported comments, industry does not control the VET system.
Yes, ANTA draws on current, relevant, comprehensive, and accurate information from industry through its industry advisory network, recently boosted with the new industry skills councils and the annual national industry skills forum. However, it also uses existing and commissioned research and regular and ongoing consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including state and territory training agencies, community organisations and other government agencies in social and economic portfolios, as well as its own specialist disability and Indigenous advisory bodies—to formulate considered, broad-based advice to VET decision-makers.
And it must be working—74 per cent of TAFE graduates have jobs after their training and 69 per cent of employers of recent VET graduates are satisfied that VET is giving graduates the skills employers need.
Investment in these skills is shared: government provides around $4.3 billion, employers around $3.7 billion, and individuals around $800 million. However, as we pointed out in our 2003 National Skills Report, training is not always the only, or necessarily the right, response to skill needs.
ANTA continues to explore and pursue multi-faceted solutions to skills shortages with industry, communities, and other public and private sector organisations.
David Hind
Chair, ANTA Board