Category Archives: VET

TAFE in trouble – reliant on $170M Qld gov’t annual subsidy for survival

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Gene Tunny

Today, the NCVER published its January to June 2018 data for government-funded vocational education and training (VET) students, and it reminded me that I should further investigate the troubled TAFE Queensland. The data show Queensland TAFE remains last in Australia … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Uncategorized, VET | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Further TAFE job cuts likely in new contestable training market

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Gene Tunny

The effective corporatisation of TAFE Queensland last year (see Qld TAFE to become statutory body) and the push for greater contestability in training funding – both of which I support – will no doubt lead to a rationalisation of Queensland … Continue reading →

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Potential savings for Newman Govt through cutting ineffective VET funding (e.g. for hairdressing)

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Gene Tunny

In a recent conference paper published today by NCVER, Australia’s leading expert on vocational education and training (VET) Tom Karmel summarises recent research on the wage premium due to completing an apprenticeship or traineeship as follows (p. 11): This research … Continue reading →

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Annual cap on mining approvals undesirable and impractical

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Gene Tunny

In the Cairns Post today, in an article with the over-the-top title of People desert Cairns in droves, there is reference to the South of the Embley mining project which is being held up by the need to secure environmental … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Mining, North Queensland, VET | 1 Comment

Restoring the ideal of a vocation

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Gene Tunny

A new discussion paper from the NCVER reminded me of George Eliot’s great novel Middlemarch, which has as its theme the ideal of having a vocation in life – something more than a job, something more akin to a calling. … Continue reading →

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Reforming apprenticeships

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Around 50% of apprenticeships in Queensland are cancelled before they are completed, raising a question about whether apprentice wages are too low relative to welfare payments. Of course, if apprentice wages were higher, employers might not take them on. Today’s … Continue reading →

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