NSW VET Review Final Report Released

The report has been developed based on research and consultation with a range of stakeholders, including industry, training providers and students across the state. 

What were the key findings? 

With ongoing skills shortages, the NSW Government needs to find new ways to work with key stakeholders, including providers and industry. This means building on what’s working well and fixing what isn’t. Given that the report is 81 pages long, we couldn’t summarise every finding, but here are some key points:

• NSW is dealing with skills shortages across all industries and demand is only going to increase.
• We’re not doing enough workforce analysis, making planning for future skills needs hard.
• Industry is less involved in solving skills challenges in the NSW VET system.
• Barriers make providing crucial support services for students facing multiple challenges challenging.
• We need to frame VET in a positive light (ie, university should not be framed as the preferred method).
• VET for secondary students is still struggling to gain the recognition and importance it deserves in senior secondary education.
• Financial and regulatory hurdles are making it hard for students and employers to get involved in apprenticeships and traineeships.

What were the recommendations? 

The final report includes 21 recommendations aimed at transforming and better integrating the NSW VET system. Some of the key ones impacting the club sector are:

• The NSW Government should ensure the NSW Skills Plan has a clear vision for skills, a Performance Outcomes Framework and a Skills Insight Data Asset.
• The NSW Government should transition to a system-wide, student-centred approach to VET student support.
• The NSW Department of Education should embed the school-based apprenticeship and traineeship (SBAT) pathway as a core offering within secondary schools.
• The NSW Department of Education should improve the quality, consistency and availability of careers advice in schools.

To view the report, please click here. 

So, what is next? The NSW Government will consider these recommendations and provide a response shortly. Work is already underway on some recommendations, including starting consultations on a new TAFE NSW VET Charter and a revised TAFE NSW Operating Model.