The Victorian Skills Training Snapshot demonstrates that when it comes to delivering great outcomes for students, businesses, and taxpayers, it is independent Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) that shine. Using official data, the report is produced by the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA), the peak body representing independent skills training, higher education, and international education providers.
"What the report shows is that it is independent quality RTOs, not public TAFE, that do the heavy lifting when it comes to the task of workforce skilling, reskilling, and upskilling," said Troy Williams, ITECA Chief Executive.
Official data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) shows that independent RTOs support 87.6% of the 1,057,155 students in skills training across the state.
"The official data also shows that independent quality RTOs deliver not only the majority of short courses but also the majority of higher-level and complex qualifications," Mr Williams said.
Of note is that the Victorian Skills Training Snapshot shows that independent quality RTOs deliver better outcomes for students and taxpayers for government-funded students.
"Private RTOs consistently achieve higher completion rates than public TAFE colleges and also higher student satisfaction on key metrics for government funded students" Mr Williams said.
The release of the Victorian Skills Training Snapshot follows last week's decision by the Victorian Government to slash the funding available to students studying with independent quality RTOs. It's a decision that fails students and taxpayers, according to ITECA Victoria.
"When it comes to government-funded skills training, independent RTOs deliver the best outcomes for students and taxpayers. Government can invest with confidence in the skills training delivered by independent quality RTOs," Mr Williams said.
With stakeholders across the business community pushing back against the Victorian Government's recent decision to slash skills training funding, ITECA Victoria says it's time for the government to refocus policy.
"It is critical to put students at the heart of the Victorian Government's skills funding reforms. The best outcome for all is an environment in which students can choose the provider of their choice, whether this is an independent quality RTO or a public TAFE college," Mr Williams said.
Asked to summarise the data in the Victorian Skills Training Snapshot, Mr Williams provided a clear and unambiguous statement.
"The official data shows that independent skills training is great for students and great for Victoria," Mr Williams said.
