SA leads the nation in vocational education training enrolments despite ongoing funding row

SA is working hardest to beat the nation’s skills shortage, new figures reveal – despite claims we’re really going backwards.

South Australia is leading the country in the number of people undertaking training courses as industries face unprecedented skills shortages.

Official figures show SA has experienced sustained growth in the number of students in VET courses, while other states such as New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and West Australia have declined.

Latest official figures show SA has experienced sustained growth in enrolments for Vocational Educational Training (VET) courses, while other states have continued to decline.

The National Centre for Vocational Educational Research has found 40,750 South Australian students were enrolled in government-funded VET courses between January and March – an increase of 4 per cent since last year.

This compared to a national decrease of 5.4 per cent, with Victoria dropping by 13.6 per cent, Queensland 3.6 per cent, NSW 3.3 per cent and Western Australia 1.6 per cent.

The figures have emerged as various industries experience worsening skills shortages, with a recent national summit tasked with developing an urgent action plan.

Private education providers have been calling for more government funding, arguing they are delivering better results than government VET organisations such as TAFE.

Education Minister Blair Boyer. Picture: Emma Brasier

Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (SA) chief executive Troy William said the state’s 180 independent registered training organisations (RTOs) were responsible for 89 per cent – or 233,085 – of its total VET students.

“The state government supports these students with only 24.4 per cent of its investment in the delivery of its skills training programs,” he said.

“It is critical to note that the government’s investment to support these students has fallen over the past four years.

“While total investment increased by 14.7 per cent on 2017 levels, this increase largely went to public providers and has not been matched by a commensurate increase in enrolments with these providers.”

Former Liberal education minister John Gardner. Picture: Matt Loxton

Opposition education spokesman John Gardner argued the recent enrolment results were the outcome of sustained investment in training and apprenticeships by the previous Liberal government.

“This data just cements what we already know – that South Australia punched above its weight under the former Liberal Government when it comes to Vocational Education and Training,” he said.

“The former Liberal Government worked extremely hard and invested heavily to provide a quality training framework that leads to meaningful and successful careers, with fantastic results.

“It’s pleasing see the most popular qualification was a Certificate III in Individual Support followed by a Certificate II in Electrotechnology, which reflects our strong investment in important care and growth industries.”

Plumbing apprentice Oscar Santinon, 17, at work in Adelaide. Picture: Matt Loxton

Mr Gardner said the latest NCVER data also had shown the number of South Australian apprentices and trainees in-training grew every year over the life of the former Liberal Government.

“As of December 2021, there were 25,095 in-training in South Australia compared with 15,430 in 2017, representing a 63 per cent increase from when Labor were last in power,” he said.

“Not only did the former Liberal Government increase the number of apprentices and trainees in-training each year we were in government, the figures show we also achieved nation-leading growth in apprenticeship and traineeship completions.”

Education Minister Blair Boyer disputed this, saying SA’s vocational training actually suffered under the Liberal government.

“While it’s always pleasing to see an increase in enrolments in students undertaking vocational training, it’s important we look at the bigger picture when discussing skills and training,” he said.

Apprentice painter Shaeleigh Owbridge. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

“South Australia suffered in the sector under the former Liberal government with cuts to vital programs at TAFE such as early childhood and disability.

“Between 2019 and 2022, the number of students studying at TAFE declined by 22.8 per cent – a huge drop from over 27,000 students to 20,985.”

Mr Boyer said adult education providers were also damaged by the former government.

“Their $1 million in cuts to adult community education funding saw significant declines in training – a 33 per cent decline in students between 2019 and 2022, which was 1300 down to 870.”

Mr Boyer said the Labor government had taken “swift action to reinstate that funding”

“We have also committed $8.8 million over four years to fund courses where industry has reported shortages in areas such as bricklaying, concreting, saw doctoring and chefs,” he said.

Apprentices Heidi Daniels and Liberty Cullen

Mr Boyer said another key election commitment by Labor was to invest $208 million to build five new technical colleges across the state.

“These will focus on ensuring pathways for students in key industries with the first of these, Findon, open in 2024,” he said.

Mr Boyer said it was vital with skills training statistics to look at completion rates of those undertaking VET courses.

“Enrolment numbers are only one part of the picture,” he said.

“Under the Marshall Liberal Government, the number of students dropping out of apprenticeships skyrocketed – up 53.6 per cent in 2021 compared to 2020.

“We must focus on completion rates to ensure long term success for students and in turn, industry.”