The Australian and Victorian Governments are taking immediate action to address the current skills shortage to deliver more Fee-Free TAFE and vocational education places for Victorians.
A landmark 12-month Skills Agreement will inject more than $250 million into the Victorian skills and training sector to support access to more than 55,000 Fee-Free TAFE and vocational education and training (VET) places in 2023.
This investment will support around 26,900 places in the care sector over the next 12 months, including around 3,800 early childhood education and care places, an official press release said.
This will help Victoria reach its target of 64,700 new workers in the health, education and community services sectors needed by 2025.
It also includes support for around 6,500 places in the technology and digital sectors, 6,300 in construction, 2,000 in agriculture, 1,800 in hospitality and tourism, 200 in sovereign capability including manufacturing and 11,700 in Victorian priorities including foundation skills.
The 12-month Skills agreement is the first stage of delivering on the skills commitments in the Australian Government’s Future Made in Australia Skills Plan. It also confirms TAFE’s central role in the VET sector, increasing opportunities and workforce participation of priority groups, while addressing critical skills gaps in the economy.
TAFE and public dual sector universities will deliver nearly all of the activity in Victoria, with a small portion of non-TAFE providers delivering care training to ensure opportunities are available to all interested students.
The agreement also includes an Australian Government commitment of $4.2 million to immediately improve TAFE facilities in Victoria, and $0.93 million for essential VET data infrastructure reform.
This first step complements the commitment demonstrated by all Governments to reforming the skills sector through a new five-year National Skills Agreement to commence in 2024, the release added.
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