TDA Newsletter | 18 May 2015
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The training and skills portfolio was largely untouched in the in federal budget, although there were a number of changes that will have an impact.
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These include:
- $14.5 million in funding in 2015 16 to expand the Adult Migrant English Program for one year to include refugees who hold temporary substantive visas, including Temporary Protection Visas, Safe Haven Enterprise Visas and Temporary (Humanitarian Concern) Visas.
- $18.2 million in funding over four years from 2015 16 to implement an enhanced compliance regime for VET FEE- HELP.
- An extension of the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) repayment framework to debtors residing overseas, estimated to recover $26.0 million over four years.
- The Education and Training portfolio will have funding reduced by $131 million over four years through savings and changes to programs. This will include the redesign of the Industry Workforce Training program, the Promotion of Excellence in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education program, the Endeavour Language Teacher Fellowships program, and the National Workforce Development Fund. A competitive tender for the further development and support of the My Skills website will also be conducted.
- There will be savings of $1.6 million over five years from 2014 15 by replacing seven vocational education and training governance bodies with the Australian Industry and Skills Council.