A new Skills Authority and a new Office within the Department of Education and Training (DET) are to be established as part of a range of initiatives designed to strengthen the quality of teaching and training in the State.
Announced by the Minister for Training and Skills, Gayle Tierney, the Victorian Skills Authority (VSA) will ensure all Victorians have the chance to receive affordable accredited training and improved pathways for skilled workers so they can find a good, secure job.
“It will also lead the development of an annual Victorian Skills Plan to better guide our State’s training delivery,” Ms Tierney said.
“The VSA is expected to be launched in July 2021 and is a key response to the recommendations in Skills for Victoria’s Growing Economy led by former Federal Minister Jenny Macklin,” she said.
Ms Tierney said the new Office of TAFE Coordination and Delivery would be established in DET to enhance collaboration across the TAFE network.
She said an $88.8 million allocation would provide subsidised VET to eligible students and deliver up to 12,200 additional training places, of which 7,400 were at TAFEs.
She said TAFEs and training providers would also receive funding to upgrade TAFE Campuses; acquire modern equipment and tools needed to teach; support placement officers to better coordinate mandatory practical placements; increase places for pre-accredited digital literacy and employability training courses; and enable a new literacy and numeracy assessment tool.
