“Prime Minister Albanese’s announcement at the Jobs and Skills Summit of an additional 180,000 fee-free TAFE places in 2023 is a welcome start to a much-needed training ‘blitz’,” Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group said today.
“This is a positive outcome of the talks between the Commonwealth Government and all states and territories at yesterday’s National Cabinet meeting.
“The great challenge for TAFE will be building up its capacity to meet this increased demand while ensuring TAFEs are delivering the right skills that businesses need.
“The skills package will need to include efforts to improve completion rates for apprentices such as by reinstating completion incentives and increasing first year support to employers for all apprenticeships and traineeships.
“Employers are looking to the establishment of Jobs and Skills Australia to drive a national approach to workforce development planning, forecasting and investment,” Mr Willox said.
