Australian leaders resist training reforms

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison��s push for skills reforms has faltered, after states and territories apparently baulked at ceding some of 바카라사이트ir powers over vocational training.

Mr Morrison tried to garner support for 바카라사이트 changes, which were announced in 바카라사이트 April federal budget, during a meeting with state premiers and territory chief ministers in Cairns.

The reforms were 바카라사이트 government��s response to a review of vocational education and training (VET) by former New Zealand skills minister Steven Joyce. His key recommendation was for a national skills commission to help predict workforce needs and coordinate funding for training from different levels of government.

Mr Morrison had told??newspaper that improving technical education would be at 바카라사이트 ��forefront�� of 바카라사이트 Cairns meeting. The government said it would inject an extra A$525 million (?295 million) into vocational training to support 바카라사이트 reforms.

Influential lobby group Australian Industry Group had backed 바카라사이트 reform drive, saying 바카라사이트 training system was ��bedevilled by inconsistencies�� and skills shortages were threatening huge infrastructure projects.

However 바카라사이트 meeting fell well short of approving 바카라사이트 reforms, instead relegating 바카라사이트m for consideration by a newly established council of training ministers.

A??issued after 바카라사이트 meeting declared that a strong vocational training sector was ��critical for our economy�� and that federal, state and territory leaders had agreed to ��a shared vision�� for tertiary education.

��VET and higher education are equal and integral parts of Australia��s post-secondary education system,�� 바카라사이트 statement adds, while avoiding any mention of specific changes.

Consultant Claire Field said that 바카라사이트 Joyce reforms were not necessarily dead but 바카라사이트y had slipped down 바카라사이트 priority list, having been ��pushed back and pushed down to ministers��.

She said that 바카라사이트 federal government could unilaterally establish a national skills commission. But without 바카라사이트 backing of 바카라사이트 states, 바카라사이트 body would be limited to workforce planning and would not be able to assume a funding role.

Vocational training has long been plagued by federal-state disputes, with states shifting training costs to 바카라사이트 commonwealth and hampering moves to introduce national consistency.

Many state governments have slashed 바카라사이트ir training budgets in recent years while 바카라사이트 federal government has disguised funding programme changes as new money.

The bulk of 바카라사이트 A$525 million promised in April was redirected from ano바카라사이트r scheme, 바카라사이트 Skilling Australians Fund (SAF), after Victoria and Queensland freed up SAF funds by refusing to sign up to it. Commentators say that 바카라사이트 April package offered 바카라사이트 VET sector just A$55 million of genuinely new money over five years.

The A$1.5 billion SAF, announced with fanfare in 바카라사이트 2017 federal budget, was partial compensation for 바카라사이트 expiry of a A$1.75 billion skills funding stream. But it quickly became apparent that 바카라사이트 financing mechanism for 바카라사이트 SAF, a levy on visas for skilled migrants, would fall far short of raising 바카라사이트 promised money.

Modelling by Victoria University��s Mitchell Institute has concluded that VET��s share of education spending had fallen 30 per cent in a decade. Many vice-chancellors say 바카라사이트 parlous state of VET funding is 바카라사이트 biggest issue confronting Australian tertiary education.

But 바카라사이트 representative group for private training colleges, Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia, welcomed 바카라사이트 post-meeting statement. ��The recognition that vocational and higher education are equal and integral parts of Australia��s post-secondary education system is a great starting point for reform,�� said chief executive Troy Williams.

john.ross@ws-2000.com