Federal budget unveils a new model of skills funding
The federal budget saw a new model of funding for vocational training, with the announcement of a skills fund that will support state and territory-led projects that meet defined Commonwealth criteria.
The $1.5 billion Skilling Australians Fund effectively replaces the National Partnership Agreement on Skills and aims to create 300,000 new apprenticeships over four years.
States and territories will be required to put forward projects, provide matching funding, and achieve agreed milestones.
The Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills Karen Andrews told a post-budget breakfast that the fund “marks an unprecedented re-engineering” of how the federal government works with state and territories on VET.
“It will only support state and territory-led projects that deliver on the aims of the fund,” Ms Andrews said.
“It will have shared funding commitments and accountability for each and every outcome.”
The budget also saw a new $60 million Industry Specialist Mentoring Program to support 47,000 apprentices.
TDA Chief Executive Craig Robertson welcomed the measures, saying TAFEs were keen to work with the Commonwealth, state and territory governments to help identify projects that meet the government’s criteria.
Commonwealth, state and territory ministers will meet on June 2 to commence negotiations about the projects that will proceed under the skills fund.
See the government’s vocational education budget measures
See TDA’s media release |