About: Don Perlgut

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) 2016 “Total VET Students and Courses” report (released 22 August 2017) shows a surprising – and very healthy – massive increase in activity for Australian community education organisations. The report estimates the number of community education provider students in 2016 at 378,900, more than doubling the percentage...

Jolie Kaja, CCA’s Community Education Student of the Year Award winner – and a graduate of Coffs Coast Community College – has been honoured by the NSW Deputy Premier, the Hon John Barilaro MP, in a ceremony yesterday (21 August) at Coffs Harbour. While in Coffs Harbour, Deputy Premier Barilaro visited Coffs Coast Community College...

The Australian Government Department of Education and Training’s VET Student Loans program has been operating since 1 January 2017, and the Department has published its first six monthly report, covering the period up to 30 June 2017. VET Student Loans (VSL) “offers income contingent loan support to eligible students studying Diploma level...

Victorians who have made a significant impact on the lives of others through community education will be recognised at this year’s Victorian Learn Local Awards. Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney today announced the finalists for the awards, which recognise the contribution of the more than 300 Learn Local organisations offering training in Victoria. “Every...

The Economics Society of Australia (ESA) has released its latest survey of Australian economists on the question, “Does privatisation of human services hurt outcomes?” Not surprisingly, the economists don’t agree: 47% of the 54-person panel disagreed or strongly disagreed with the above statement, 20% sat on the...

A senior Australian higher education commentator laid out a comprehensive critique of tertiary education funding at the Community Colleges Australia (CCA) Annual Conference in Melbourne on Wednesday 26 July. Professor Peter Noonan, who is a Professor of Tertiary Education Policy at the Mitchell Institute at Victoria University in Melbourne, gave a speech...