Current VET sector a disgrace: CEDA

The Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) is calling for a national review of the VET sector, claiming the area has been “significantly weakened” by recent scandals and a lack of focus from the government.

CEDA has put forth a number of recommendations to strengthen the sector, hoping the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) will consider them when discussing a new National Partnership on Skills Reform (NP). The recommendations coincide with the start of National Skills Week, which will run from August 29 until September 4.

The current NP concludes at the end of the next financial year. CEDA chief executive Professor the Hon. Stephen Martin says there “are currently no signs of how or if this will be extended,” which is a “significant issue”.

“The government is taking the right approach to cutting off dodgy private operators with poor outcomes from utilising VET FEE-HELP. However, much more needs to be done,” Martin says.

CEDA’s recommendations include a new VET agreement to be decided on by COAG and a comprehensive review done of the sector, with CEDA stating “holistic VET policy has been sorely missing”.

This review would include a look at where VET sits in the broader education sector, and an improving of national data quality to allow stakeholders to make better decisions. CEDA hopes this review would form the basis of a new agreement to be made once the NP expires.

Another primary recommendation is to broaden the skills provided by VET courses to provide better skills that are “transferable across occupational clusters”, with CEDA criticising the current courses as being “restrictive.”

CEDA believes a shift away from VET’s current training packages is needed to broaden skills taught. Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell agrees.

“The system needs to be performance-based, you’re training people for jobs so it should be based on people getting jobs”.

The final recommendations involve further oversight to prevent fraudulent behaviour from some operators, and better training opportunities for those who want to become VET teachers.

CEDA believes regulators should be given the power to act if standards around student cohorts, provider performance and student outcomes are not being met. Carnell agrees, saying there should be a “focus on outcome not input”.

“It’s run by the trainers for the trainers, there is no consideration for the people they are training,” Strong says.

“The best way to fix this is to design a system in conjunction with the small business community. In a world of budget problems, we don’t need more money spent on it, just better allocate the millions already available.”

CEDA has said a focus on working with industries themselves should be a high priority when conducting a VET review, claiming a disconnect with industry was a reason for the sector’s recent weakening.

Carnell cites some “extraordinarily bad policy decisions from both sides” as a reason for the sector’s dwindling, and believes there is “no doubt” closer work with industries is needed.

“Part of the national review has got to be about working with the business sector, both nationally and regionally,” Carnell says.

“Each region is different and has different requirements, and the governments need to recognise that. Courses offered need to be appropriate for the region, and that’s not necessarily how the current system works.”

There’s still a huge amount of work to be done, and there needs to be a fundamental change in the sector.”

For more Information, please read http://www.ceda.com.au/2016/08/vet-report-media-release

Sukh Sandhu

Executive Director

Sukh has been working in the VET and Higher Education Industry for over 25 years. In this time, he has held several roles with RTO's and Higher Education Providers (HEP) including CEO roles for International Colleges and National Compliance and Quality Assurance Manager roles for several RTO's, TAFE's and Universities. Sukh has also worked for the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) as a Business Systems Project Official. Sukh is a Canadian permanent resident and Australian citizen.

Sukh has had extensive project management experience in risk management, compliance, administration and as a training consultant. He has extensive knowledge in government compliance standards and has participated in nearly one hundred audits across Australia and provided consultancy advice regarding ASQA/VRQA, TEQSA, ACPET, DET-HESG, VQF/Higher Education, ELICOS, NEAS, ANMAC, AHPRA, CRICOS, ESOS and ISO.

Sukh is a member of several independent professional organisations and government bodies including, ACPET, VELG, ACS, AITD, MARA, MIA, ISANA, APEX, IEEE, The Internet Society (Global Member), AISIP, IAMOT, ACM, OISV, APACALL, IWA, Eta Kappa Nu, EDSIG and several others.

Sukh's qualifications include two MBAs, three masters in IT and systems, a Graduate diploma of management learning, Diploma in training design and development, Diploma in vocational education training, Diploma of work, health and safety, Diploma of Quality Auditing, Advanced diploma of management, Advanced diploma in marketing, human resources, information technology, and a number of other courses and qualifications. He has been working as a lecturer and as a trainer and assessor since 1998, Sukh has been a vocal advocate of audit reforms and system centred auditing practices rather than auditor centred auditing practices for many years.