An Overview of Government-Funded Students and Courses in Australia: January-September 2022

Government-funded training in Australia provides a range of courses to upskill and reskill the Australian workforce. This article provides an overview of the latest report from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) on government-funded students and courses in Australia from January to September 2022. The report shows that the number of students undertaking government-funded training has increased, with more people enrolling in courses that lead to job outcomes.

Key Findings:

The NCVER report on government-funded students and courses in Australia from January to September 2022 highlights the following key findings:

Increase in the number of students: The report shows that there has been an increase in the number of students enrolling in government-funded training. From January to September 2022, over 1.1 million students were enrolled in government-funded courses, a 6.1% decrease from the same period in 2021. 

Increase in course enrollments: The report also shows an increase in course enrollments in government-funded training. In the same period, there were 1.25 million course enrollments, a 5.6% decrease from the same period in 2021.

Decrease in higher-level qualifications: There has also been an decrease in enrollments in higher-level qualifications. In the same period, there was a 11.49% decrease in enrollments in Diploma level qualifications and a 3.28% decrease in enrollments in Certificate level IV qualifications. Only certificate III is following the reverse trend, where 2.68% increased can be noticed.

Top industries: The top five industries with the most enrollments were Engineering and related technologies, Society and culture, Management and commerce, Mxfield programmes and Architecture and building.

Implications:

The NCVER report on government-funded students and courses in Australia from January to September 2022 has several implications for the Australian vocational education and training (VET) sector.

Increased demand for job-focused courses: The report shows an increasing demand for courses that lead to job outcomes. This highlights the need for the VET sector to continue to offer courses that are aligned with the needs of the labor market.

Importance of online delivery: The report shows a significant increase in enrollments in online courses, highlighting the importance of online delivery in the VET sector. RTOs need to be prepared to offer quality online courses to cater to the growing demand.

One of the main challenges is the lack of awareness and understanding of apprenticeships and traineeships among young people and their families. Many still believe that university is the only path to a successful career, and this mindset needs to change. The VET sector must do more to promote the benefits of apprenticeships and traineeships as viable and rewarding career paths.

Another barrier to entry is the complexity of the apprenticeship and traineeship system, including the various funding models and regulations. The government needs to simplify the system and provide more support for employers and apprentices/trainees throughout the process.

There are also issues with the quality of training provided, with some employers not providing adequate on-the-job training and support. The government and the VET sector must work together to ensure that training is of high quality and relevant to the needs of industry.

Conclusion:

The government-funded students and courses report for January to September 2022 shows that the VET sector continues to play a vital role in providing training and education for a range of students, including disadvantaged and underrepresented groups. 

The VET sector and the government must work together to address the challenges and barriers to entry for prospective apprentices and trainees. This includes promoting the benefits of apprenticeships and traineeships, simplifying the system, providing more support for employers and apprentices/trainees, and ensuring that training is of high quality and relevant to the needs of industry.

The VET sector must also continue to adapt and innovate to meet the changing needs of students and industry, including the growing demand for digital skills and the need for more flexible and accessible training options.

By addressing these challenges and working together, the VET sector and the government can ensure that apprenticeships and traineeships remain a valuable and viable option for young people and jobseekers looking to build successful careers and contribute to the Australian economy.

References:  

NCVER. (2022). Government-funded students and courses: January to September 2022. Retrieved from https://www.ncver.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0044/9676367/Government-funded-students-and-courses-January-to-September-2022.pdf