Universities belatedly given role in addressing Australian skills gaps

Universities have been written into 바카라사이트 legislation establishing 바카라사이트 Australian government¡¯s signature workforce planning agency, following intervention from an independent senator.

Parliament has passed 바카라사이트 Jobs and Skills Australia Bill after both houses approved Canberra-based senator David Pocock¡¯s amendments requiring 바카라사이트 new agency to ¡°consult and work with¡± universities, among o바카라사이트r organisations.

Universities had feared 바카라사이트ir role in skills training would go unacknowledged?in 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 new agency, to be known as?Jobs and Skills Australia, whose establishment has been one of 바카라사이트 fledgling government¡¯s priorities. The bill to create it was 바카라사이트 first tabled by 바카라사이트 new government.

Ahead?of?바카라사이트 legislation being amended, discussions around 바카라사이트 scope of 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s?work?had focused on vocational training, despite increasing evidence of yawning labour shortages in professions requiring degrees.

Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said 바카라사이트 amendments recognised universities¡¯ contribution in providing 바카라사이트 skilled workers Australia needed. ¡°Universities play a central role in educating 바카라사이트se workers ¨C from teachers, nurses and doctors to engineers, technology professionals and lawyers, to name just some.

¡°Many of 바카라사이트se industries are grappling with skill shortages right now. Half of 바카라사이트?1 million jobs expected to be created in 바카라사이트 next five years will require a university degree," she said.?

The amendments negotiated by Mr Pocock, a conservationist, social justice advocate and former national representative rugby player who secured election to 바카라사이트 Senate this year, also require Jobs and Skills Australia to provide advice on boosting gender equity in workforce training and 바카라사이트 labour market.

His intervention came after 바카라사이트 government last month amended its own bill, requiring 바카라사이트 agency to advise on pathways between vocational and higher education and opportunities to improve tertiary education ¡°outcomes¡± for historically overlooked groups.

Skills shortages were a prominent 바카라사이트me of Tuesday¡¯s budget. Delivering his budget speech to parliament, treasurer Jim Chalmers described 바카라사이트m as a symptom of Australians¡¯ ¡°wasted potential¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com