Monthly Archives: August 2019

A CCA presentation has highlighted the many challenges in connecting vocational education and training (VET) with economic development in Western Sydney. In a paper entitled “Connecting VET and Regional Economic Development in Western Sydney: An ACE case study”, CCA’s CEO, Dr Don Perlgut highlighted conclusions and recommendations of CCA’s recently completed...

Last week’s Surfers Paradise conference of the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA, the former ACPET) highlighted some of the big questions facing Australian post-secondary education. Kate Carnell AO, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, gave the opening keynote address. Noting that she was a pharmacist by trade and small businessperson, she expressed criticism of...

A major report from the Australian think tank, Grattan Institute, has highlighted the ups and downs of Australian vocational education and training (VET). The timely report, entitled Risks and rewards: when is vocational education a good alternative to higher education?, concludes that: “Some university students with low school results would be better off...

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) – the peak intergovernmental forum in Australia – has released a Vision for vocational education and training (VET). The release took place on 9 August 2019 following COAG’s Cairns meeting of the Prime Minister and premiers of all states and territories. The agreed summary COAG VET vision...

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), Australia’s national VET regulator, has been in the news a great deal in recent weeks. CCA reviews the coverage below, which includes:

• An unprecedented attack in Federal Parliament by Queensland backbencher Andrew Laming;
• ASQA’s strategic review into international education, which was highly critical of some private for profit colleges,...

The Victorian Government has hosted a state adult and community education (ACE) sector summit, as the Andrews Government works on building a Ministerial Statement to support the state’s not-for-profit education and training sector. Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education, Gayle Tierney (pictured), opened the ACE Summit on 7 August, bringing together this diverse sector...