TAFE Division submissions to government
The QTU has actively engaged with both the state and federal governments on the future of the skills and training sector.
The Queensland Government has held an inquiry into the delivery of VET in regional, rural, and remote Queensland. Meanwhile, the federal government has called for submissions from stakeholders in relation to Jobs and Skills Australia, as well as perceptions and status of VET.
VET delivery in regional, rural, and remote Queensland
The QTU submission to the Queensland Government’s Education, Employment and Training Committee Inquiry into the delivery of VET in regional, rural, and remote Queensland reflected QTU policy positions adopted by our Biennial Conference and was prepared in consultation with members of our TAFE Executive, as well as rank-and-file members.
Our submission asserted that the social and educational interests and needs of Queensland are best served through the maintenance of a strong, fully funded, high quality public education and training system. The QTU submission made 17 recommendations that addressed the inquiry’s terms of reference, including calling on the Queensland Government to develop a funding policy of positive discrimination that scales funding in favour of educationally disadvantaged groups in the community, including regional, rural, and remote communities.
The QTU submission is available on the QTU website at: https://www.qtu.asn.au/submissions/QTU-submission-EETC-inquiry.
Jobs and Skills Australia
At the federal level, the QTU is affiliated with the Australian Education Union, and QTU officers frequently support the AEU as it prepares submissions to the federal government. The QTU supported the AEU’s submission to the Senate’s Education and Employment Legislation Committee Inquiry into the Jobs and Skills Australia Bill 2022.
The bill, which was the first piece of legislation introduced by the Albanese government, established Jobs and Skills Australia as a new independent agency responsible for providing advice to government on current, emerging, and future workforce skills and training needs.
The AEU submission can be downloaded from the Parliament of Australia website at: https://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=71ca90f3-e915-46a7-80e0-d8f2b34591d6&subId=721303
Perceptions and status of VET
More recently, the QTU contributed to the AEU submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training’s Inquiry into the Perceptions and Status of Vocational Education and Training.
Our submission made the case for a high quality, well-resourced and trusted TAFE sector.
The submission states: “Public vocational education is every person’s right, and TAFE holds a particularly important role in the lives of people throughout their working lives. Successive cuts, underfunding and the student loans debacle have damaged the sector, undermined the teaching workforce, and slashed funding and support where it is needed most.
“TAFE has always been highly regarded and has supported individuals, communities, and employers for decades. It has developed partnerships with employers and communities to provide pathways for students to employment, further education, and university. It provides support for those seeking employment for the first time, those who missed opportunities at school, and those who seek retraining and further education throughout their lives.”
The AEU submission can be downloaded from the Parliament of Australia website at: https://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=0f07abd1-7785-4720-9429-e27d6f4d9753&subId=734419