Formal VET training plays a crucial role in preparing people for employment opportunities and supporting employers to secure a skilled workforce. However, the need for training delivery in particular skill areas is not always apparent, or if it is apparent, training is not always possible to supply.
Click across the tabs to view active and completed project stages. Consultation takes place at every stage of the project.
It can be difficult to gauge the true demand for training from uptake or enrolments in a qualification. A host of factors might prevent registered training organisations (RTOs) from offering a qualification, so even though industry needs the training supplied, it may not be available for enrolment. Similarly, learners or employers may experience barriers to engaging with formal training that are not related to the qualification itself. The challenges for all parties can be particularly pronounced in rural, regional and remote areas.
This project will explore the factors impacting the visibility of demand and the delivery and uptake of VET training to produce a research paper outlining the challenges faced and recommendations for potential solutions. It will build on similar research undertaken in 2020 incorporating developments in the VET system, training delivery and the workforce over the past four years.
84
the number of nationally endorsed qualifications with enrolments that are considered low, from the industries Skills Insight supports . There is no option to enrol in at least 24 of these, because the training isn’t being offered.
Project Scope
The project will focus on 13 industry areas, where there is evidence of low enrolment qualifications (less than an average of 40 enrolments over a 3-year period). In total 41 qualifications have been identified in the following areas:
Initial consultation will take place in Victoria during the development stage to test the approach. This will include focus groups, site visits and in-depth interviews with stakeholder from the following industry areas: arboriculture, permaculture, horticulture and forestry and wood products. There will then be the opportunity for consultation nationally as part of the broad consultation stage.
Key Questions
Subscribe for updates
If you would like to receive updates about this project, please subscribe to our newsletter and select ‘General news’ as one of your industries of interest.
Timeline
Project Team
Ngaire Stratton
Project Manager, Skills Insight
[email protected]
Julie Stratford
Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Skills Insight
[email protected]
Mark Fletcher
Researcher, Skills Insight
This project involves a range of activities, some of which are being undertaken by ForestWorks as part of their collaborative partnership with Skills Insight. ForestWorks has an enduring and strong connection working with the forestry, timber, paper, fibre and furnishing industries and will work on this project where it relates to these industries.
True demand for training is not always possible to gauge from qualification enrolment data alone. Registered training organisations (RTOs) face challenges in delivering qualifications, meaning they may not be able to supply training everywhere it is needed. Even where qualifications meet industry needs and are available to enrol in, learners or employers may experience barriers to engaging with formal training. In rural, regional and remote areas, delivery and engagement in formal VET training can be especially challenging.
Consultation is underway as part of this project to explore the factors impacting the visibility of demand, challenges with delivery and barriers to uptake of VET training. The project approach is currently being tested in Victoria with stakeholders from the arboriculture, permaculture, protected and production horticulture, and saw technology industries. This has included focus groups, site visits and in-depth interviews with relevant trainers, employers, industry organisations and unions. This will allow us to refine the approach before broad consultation from June to September.
During this stage, the forest and wood products and pulp and paper industries were identified for inclusion in the project. Challenges in these industries have been examined by ForestWorks with extensive industry consultation. The findings from this work will be incorporated into the approach and findings of this current project. For more information see: the Improving Enrolments Project and Forestry Workforce Training Program Scoping Study November 2023.
Next Steps
During the broad consultation stage, the project team will undertake discussions with stakeholders around the country across all 13 industry areas that are part of this project. We want to hear from stakeholders about what factors are impacting supply and demand for each qualification and what strategies might help address these challenges.
Consultation will be followed by a period of review and analysis to determine if any further investigation is required. Your insights will then be used to produce a research paper outlining the challenges faced and recommendations for potential solutions. The research paper will be submitted to DEWR in November 2024, with potential for future projects as a result.
Links to register for consultation opportunities taking place as part of the broad consultation stage will be available on this webpage soon. In the meantime, you are welcome to contact the project manager, Ngaire Stratton [email protected]
Subscribe for updates
If you would like to receive updates about this project, please subscribe to our newsletter and select ‘General news’ as one of your industries of interest.
Industry Areas & Qualifications for Consultation
Consultation is taking place as part of this project to explore the challenges related to delivery of and engagement with formal VET training.
We encourage input from RTOs, employers, unions and industry organisations about barriers to delivering and engaging with formal training.
Skills Insight is organising focus groups, site visits and in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders from June to September. These activities are taking place nationally, across the 11 industry areas listed below.
We want to hear from stakeholders about the factors impacting supply and demand for each qualification and what strategies might help address these challenges.
Subscribe for updates
If you would like to receive updates about this project, please subscribe to our newsletter and select ‘General news’ as one of your industries of interest.
Your insights will be used to produce a research paper outlining the barriers to meeting training demand and recommendations for potential strategies to address them. This will be submitted to DEWR in November 2024, with the potential for future projects coming out of the project findings.
Consultation Opportunities
See below to register for opportunities to participate in focus groups, online in-depth interviews and site visits.
Online Interviews
Online interview will be held to better understand the nuances impacting access to training in specific industry areas and regions.
Site Visits
Site visits will be held around the country in between focus groups. To arrange a suitable time, please email [email protected]
Focus Groups
Register for a focus group for your industry and preferred location using the links below. If none of the focus group times suit, you are welcome to organise an online interview.
Victoria
Melbourne, Tuesday 25 June
Tasmania
Hobart, Monday 1 July
Hobart, Tuesday 2 July
Queensland
Brisbane, Monday 15 July
Brisbane, Tuesday 16 July
New South Wales
Sydney, Monday 29 July
Sydney, Tuesday 30 July
Northern Territory
Darwin, Monday 12 August
Darwin, Tuesday 13 August
South Australia
Adelaide, Monday 26 August
Adelaide, Tuesday 27 August
Western Australia
Fremantle, Monday 2 September
Perth, Tuesday 3 September
Industry Areas & Qualifications for Consultation
This stage has not yet commenced.
At the finalisation stage, final checks are conducted and the outcomes of the project are submitted to the Department for consideration. Following this, outcomes are published or enacted.