The Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA) has welcomed the release of the NSW VET Review Final Report 2024. According to ITECA New South Wales, this report represents a significant and much-needed step towards integrating traditionally separate skills training and higher education sectors into a cohesive and aligned tertiary system.
The report's focus on providing New South Wales students with quality pathways that meet their aspirations and build essential skills, knowledge, and capabilities is a vision that ITECA New South Wales supports.
"This approach is crucial for ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, have access to lifelong learning opportunities. The ability to move seamlessly through various training and education choices is vital for the development of a robust workforce," said Troy Williams, ITECA Chief Executive.
The report recognises skills training as an equal and high-quality choice that leads to strong employment outcomes and rewarding careers, a significant milestone backed by ITECA New South Wales.
"For too long, skills training has been undervalued in comparison to other tertiary education pathways. The report's emphasis on elevating skills training will help attract more students to this vital sector and ensure that they are well-prepared for the demands of the modern workforce," Mr Williams said.
Independent Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) do the heavy lifting when it comes to the delivery of quality skills training in the state, supporting 85.5% of the 1,255,445 students across New South Wales in skills training according to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) data.
"ITECA News South Wales will be advocating for reforms that put students at the heart of a high-performing skills training system that's underpinned by quality RTOs," Mr Williams said.
Of interest is the recommendation that the New South Wales Government establish a single, expert-led governance body responsible for providing system-wide strategic advice. This body will be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to ensure clear accountability and effective leadership across the education and training landscape.
"The establishment of a unified governance body represents a significant step towards delivering a world-class skills training system for New South Wales. With the contribution of the independent RTOs, the proposed structure could provide the strategic leadership needed to ensure that the state's skills training system is well-positioned to meet the challenges of the future," Mr Williams said.
ITECA New South Wales is in active discussions with the New South Wales Government concerning the next steps in implementing the recommendations from the review. One aspect is ensuring that reforms empower students to study with the provider of their choice.
"Government approaches to skills funding need to allow students to study with the provider that's best able to help them achieve their life and career goals, whether this is a quality independent RTO or a public TAFE college," Mr Williams concluded.
