Dr LIM - 1996-10-16
The Commonwealth government is introducing a new vocational training scheme involving secondary schools. What level of funding for this scheme is provided by the Commonwealth?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I will first correct one small matter raised by the member for Greatorex. The new training system has been adopted by all states and the federal government in relation not only to VET programs in schools but also to a revision of the training program in Australia as a whole, under what is referred to as MAATS - the Modern Australian Apprenticeship Training Scheme. I thank the honourable member for his question, knowing his long-term interest in and involvement with TAFE and with the development of Centralian College, a unique institution that delivers both vocational training and senior secondary courses. The question provides me with an opportunity to provide Territorians with the comfort of knowing that their elected government and its various departments, including in this instance the Department of Education, are at the forefront of development in the country.
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr FINCH: The member for Arnhem chuckles away, but he will be interested to know that this new, you-beaut VET in schools that is being promoted around the country has been in existence for at least 3 if not 4 years in the Northern Territory. It applies at Casuarina Senior Secondary College. Offhand, I do not know the number of courses offered there with TAFE accreditation, but there are well over 100 if not close to 200 modules. ASHS has run some very innovative vocational programs to bring young Alice Springs people back into the school system instead of them walking the streets. It gives them a meaningful program and an interface with industry. In many cases, that has led directly to job opportunities and/or the
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continuation or pursuit of training or further education. I should mention also that some 6 subject areas are covered already at Centralian College, with some 70 modules this year, increasing to 85 modules next year. The important point is that these are not just vocational subjects that stimulate students in themselves, although that may be an important component. However, far more pertinently, the approach that is being taken is that those vocational subjects should match the training profile for the Northern Territory - that is, that they should lead to potentially meaningful employment.
We have had accreditation already of many of the deliverers and of the courses themselves, and young students are able to study a senior secondary subject that is accredited to their further training later, whether that be in hairdressing, graphics or a whole range of other subject areas. This means that, by the time young people leave high school, at around the age of 18 these days, they may have had the opportunity to pick up as much as the equivalent of a full year's accreditation towards some formal TAFE course. That is obviously of benefit to them.
Under MAATS, some $50m a year is provided through the Commonwealth for the professional development of teachers. That will be put specifically into vocational courses in secondary schools. This is in addition to the effort provided already in the Northern Territory. We understand that the Territory's share of that $50m will be a considerable amount. It has yet to be finalised, but certainly it will be greater than per capita funding and we will be in a position to offer far greater potential for our young people. The courses will not be delivered simply by high school teachers. By collaborative arrangement, they will be provided to the various senior high schools and colleges also by TAFE lecturers, whether they be from Centralian College or NTU.
There is one other feature that I want to speak about. To help with coordination between high schools and the workplace, some 200 workplace coordinators will be managed through an Australian Student Traineeship Foundation. We are still waiting to hear what share of those 200 workplace coordinators the Northern Territory will have. Hopefully, we will have 4 or even 5 of the 200 to help young Territorians take the very meaningful step that will help to bridge the gap between their school education and the workplace.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I will first correct one small matter raised by the member for Greatorex. The new training system has been adopted by all states and the federal government in relation not only to VET programs in schools but also to a revision of the training program in Australia as a whole, under what is referred to as MAATS - the Modern Australian Apprenticeship Training Scheme. I thank the honourable member for his question, knowing his long-term interest in and involvement with TAFE and with the development of Centralian College, a unique institution that delivers both vocational training and senior secondary courses. The question provides me with an opportunity to provide Territorians with the comfort of knowing that their elected government and its various departments, including in this instance the Department of Education, are at the forefront of development in the country.
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr FINCH: The member for Arnhem chuckles away, but he will be interested to know that this new, you-beaut VET in schools that is being promoted around the country has been in existence for at least 3 if not 4 years in the Northern Territory. It applies at Casuarina Senior Secondary College. Offhand, I do not know the number of courses offered there with TAFE accreditation, but there are well over 100 if not close to 200 modules. ASHS has run some very innovative vocational programs to bring young Alice Springs people back into the school system instead of them walking the streets. It gives them a meaningful program and an interface with industry. In many cases, that has led directly to job opportunities and/or the
Page 1708
continuation or pursuit of training or further education. I should mention also that some 6 subject areas are covered already at Centralian College, with some 70 modules this year, increasing to 85 modules next year. The important point is that these are not just vocational subjects that stimulate students in themselves, although that may be an important component. However, far more pertinently, the approach that is being taken is that those vocational subjects should match the training profile for the Northern Territory - that is, that they should lead to potentially meaningful employment.
We have had accreditation already of many of the deliverers and of the courses themselves, and young students are able to study a senior secondary subject that is accredited to their further training later, whether that be in hairdressing, graphics or a whole range of other subject areas. This means that, by the time young people leave high school, at around the age of 18 these days, they may have had the opportunity to pick up as much as the equivalent of a full year's accreditation towards some formal TAFE course. That is obviously of benefit to them.
Under MAATS, some $50m a year is provided through the Commonwealth for the professional development of teachers. That will be put specifically into vocational courses in secondary schools. This is in addition to the effort provided already in the Northern Territory. We understand that the Territory's share of that $50m will be a considerable amount. It has yet to be finalised, but certainly it will be greater than per capita funding and we will be in a position to offer far greater potential for our young people. The courses will not be delivered simply by high school teachers. By collaborative arrangement, they will be provided to the various senior high schools and colleges also by TAFE lecturers, whether they be from Centralian College or NTU.
There is one other feature that I want to speak about. To help with coordination between high schools and the workplace, some 200 workplace coordinators will be managed through an Australian Student Traineeship Foundation. We are still waiting to hear what share of those 200 workplace coordinators the Northern Territory will have. Hopefully, we will have 4 or even 5 of the 200 to help young Territorians take the very meaningful step that will help to bridge the gap between their school education and the workplace.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016