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More adults now learning new skills

MORE than 10 per cent of the Australian adult population is participating in some form of vocational or technical education, a new report reveals.
The Australian Government Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, the Hon Gary Hardgrave MP, said The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) report reflected the Australian Government's commitment to skilling Australians through record funding and a range of initiatives, such as the 25 Australian Technical Colleges in 24 regions, the Commonwealth-State Skilling Australia's Workforce Agreement , Australian Apprenticeship Access Programme and Group Training in the Trades Programme.
The latest training activity statistics for Australia's publicly funded Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) system shows 1.64 million Australians in VTE, a 26 per cent increase since 1995/96.
"All measures of activity in this sector increased between 2004 and 2005 and show that 11.4 per cent, or one in nine, of Australia's working age population are undertaking training in the public VTE system," Mr Hardgrave said.
Increases in the sector include:
* 2.9 per cent in the number of students enrolled in the public VTE system in 2005 (1.64 million students - an increase of 46,000 students over 2004);
* 2.9 per cent in total subject enrolments; and
* 3.9 per cent in total hours of delivery (a record high level).
Student numbers increased in all states and territories except Victoria (4.5 per cent decrease) in the past 12 months, with NSW experiencing an increase of 8.6 per cent.
The figures from NCVER indicate that VTE continues to be a popular choice for young people. Participation of the 15-19 years age group increased by 4.5 per cent and has reached a record high over recent years of 27 per cent. This continues the trend of an increasing rate of participation since 2000.
Female participation increased by 3.8 per cent from 2004 with women now making up 48.1 per cent of the VTE population. Indigenous student numbers increased by 10.7 per cent to make up 3.8 per cent of the total student population in 2005.
The number of students with a disability increased by 6.8 per cent and those from a non-English speaking background increased by 5.2 per cent.
"The Australian Government is investing a record $10.8 billion between 2005 and 2008 in the vocational and technical education sector including an investment of $5 billion directly to States and Territories to fund their VTE activity," Mr Hardgrave said.
Since 1995/1996 the number of publicly funded VTE students has increased by 26 per cent to more than to 1.64 million people. The Howard Government is providing an additional 167,000 places over the 2005 to 2008 period through:
* The Commonwealth-State Skilling Australia's Workforce Agreement (128,000 places);
* Australian Technical College (7,500 places);
* Australian Apprenticeship Access Programme (20,000 places); and
* Group Training in the Trades Programme (11,500 places).
The Howard Government has provided real options for young Australians and presided over record growth in the take up of Australian Apprenticeships where there are now over 389,000 Australian Apprentices in training, a 141 per cent increase from 1996 when the Howard Government came to office.
This is in stark contrast to when Mr Beazley was Minister, when the number of apprentices in training was down to 122,600 in 1993. Since the Howard Government came to office, there has been a continued decrease in unmet demand.
In 1995, an estimated 89,300 individuals applied for, but were unable to gain a place to study in a VTE course - 69,400 of these were seeking access to a TAFE place. In 2005, the level fell to 45,000, with 34,200 seeking to study at TAFE.
The Howard Government is also delivering a range of initiatives during 2006 to 2009 designed to attract and retain young Australians in the trades and provide incentives to encourage Australian business to take on these people and help develop their skills. These include:
* Establishing 25 Australian Technical Colleges across 24 regions to promote pride and excellence in the teaching and acquiring of trade skills at secondary school level at a cost of $343.6 million;
* Helping to ease the early financial burden on apprentices by providing apprentices starting an eligible apprenticeship with a tool kit worth up to $800;
* A $1000 Commonwealth Trade Learning Scholarship with $500 paid at the successful completion of each of the first and second years of their apprenticeship in an eligible trade with a small or medium size business;
* Extending the Living Away From Home Allowance to third-year apprentices who have moved away from home to take up or remain in an apprenticeship;
* An additional $106.7 million for Australian Apprenticeships Centres;
* $10.6 million over four years to extend incentives for employers of higher level apprentices in key growth areas; and
* An extra $6 million for the National Skill Shortages Strategy.
The commitment of the Australian Government to vocational and technical training and to providing training opportunities for all Australians is unprecedented in Australia's history and its efforts are reflected in the release of the NCVER figures.