TAFE update

Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 130 No 2, 11 April 2025, page no 28.

Jobs and Skills Australia update
In February, the Australian Education Union’s National TAFE Council Executive (NTCE) received a report regarding the activities of Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), which is undertaking significant work across a range of projects including:

• a gender economic equality study 
• a tertiary harmonisation report
• a generative AI capacity study.
   

The gender and economic equality study is ongoing, and is returning some particularly interesting data, including the discovery that the more a skills area is gender segregated, the more likely the area is to be in shortage.

The tertiary harmonisation report, which has now been released, examines the bringing together of vocational education and training (VET) and higher education. Not integration, and not unification − the report identifies that each needs to be respected with the aim of securing equal status for both.

The report looks at system actors and architecture and the benefits of harmonisation and provides an outline of the development of a road map to harmonisation. This includes enacting changes recommended through the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) reform process. 

The AQF originally privileged knowledge above skills, but this division is not sustainable given the future workforce will be dependant on skills. There are also issues that need to be resolved nationally around credit transfer and recognition of prior learning. 

Harmonisation is predicted to lead to a more efficient system with increased equity, which will assist in reaching national targets and support national strategies. 

Federal Minister addresses AEU 
The Federal Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles addressed the AEU Federal Conference, thanking the Union for its pivotal in role in achieving long needed changes to the national training system.

Minister Giles (pictured above with delegates) stated that the current government’s aim is to leave no one behind. He said that the Albanese government had inherited Australia’s worst skills shortages for over a century. As well as ignoring skills shortages, he said that the previous government overlooked rorts in the competitive training system, with corporate entities misusing training funds (including traineeships) and some simultaneously underpaying their staff. 

He identified that the work for TAFE and VET currently being undertaken includes:

• the identification of attraction and retention of high-quality teaching staff as a priority, with a work force development plan underway.
• free TAFE funding across the country, with 600,000 places being provided offering life changing opportunity and cost of living relief. 
   

Free TAFE has opened the door of opportunity that had previously been slammed shut. He stated that in 2019, the Morrison government was alerted that more people with VET qualifications were needed in the work force and that cost was the key barrier to this. Instead of acting on this advice, he ripped money from TAFE. 

The Minister reiterated Labor's belief that TAFE is the heart of vocational education in Australia and that everyone deserves the skills to have well paid jobs. 

National TAFE Photography Competition The Australian Education Union (AEU) has committed to again running the National TAFE Photography Competition as a part of the #rebuildwithTAFE campaign.  The competition is open to current students studying in the public provider, whether a TAFE College or a VET student in a dual sector university. The 2025 competition will continue with the theme of “The Heart of TAFE”. Entries will close at 5pm on 7 July. See the QTU website for details. The state winners will receive $1000 each and be included for judging at the national level. The national winner will be announced at a ceremony at Parliament House, Canberra on National TAFE Day (9 September), and will receive a prize of $5,000.

David Terauds
TAFE Organiser