Private school students eligible for vocational education subsidy in funding overhaul

Changes in vocational education and training subsidies students the chance to learn job-ready skills for free — wherever they study — and keep more teachers in public school classrooms.

Elizabeth Macarthur High School construction students (from left) Cameron Eddie, Krishav Yanktaswar and Ryan Flaherty in the woodworking workshop at the school in Narellan Vale. Picture: Jonathan Ng

A funding overhaul for vocational education and training is set to give private school students the chance to learn job-ready skills for free, and keep more teachers in public school classrooms.

The changes will see tuition for externally administered Year 11 and 12 VET courses 100 per cent subsidised in the lowest socio-economic schools, even if they’re Catholic or independent. Every school will receive at subsidy of at least 60 per cent.

Public schools could previously only make external VET fee-free by redirecting funding for teachers, a quirk which afflicted rural and regional areas most.

Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said the changes will give young people more opportunities “regardless of where they go to school in NSW”.

“There should be no barriers to accessing quality vocational education and training in high school, particularly at a time when labour shortages and skills gaps are hampering businesses across NSW,” he said.

Elizabeth Macarthur High School hospitality students Portia Randell, year 12 (front) and Hannah Spiteri, year 11, teach Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens how to brew the perfect coffee. Picture: Jonathan Ng

At Elizabeth Macarthur High School VET students are taught internally, but they’re currently bussed between their school and two other local schools because there aren’t enough teachers in their patch of southwest Sydney to cater for the demand.

Construction teacher Todd Meads said the school was unable to run a Year 11 intake this year, because he’s the only dual-qualified Australian Skills Quality Authority-approved educator available for the Year 12 cohort at all three schools.

Industrial Arts teacher Todd Meads with construction student Cameron Eddie. Mr Meads has taken on VET students from two other nearby high schools because he’s the only dual-qualified teacher in the area. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“(This change) may help us run more courses, because with the teacher shortage there is difficulty finding certain teachers to deliver VET courses,” he said.

“Once Todd’s timetables full, there can be no more classes,” principal Kylie Hedger explained.

“If you could get a teacher from TAFE, to come and deliver the courses, more students would have the options … that we might not be able to supply,” she said.

16-year-old Year 12 hospitality student Molly Morrisey said finishing school with a certificate II qualification will give her the flexibility to work in the food and beverage sector while undertaking further studies.

Hospitality student Jorja Newett, Molly Morrisey, and Portia Randell are among more than 100 Elizabeth Macarthur High School students set to graduate with a job-ready qualification. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“It’s so industry based, there’s more opportunity for me to go into the workforce from school … and because of Covid there’s lots of jobs available.”

17-year-old Cameron Eddie said his certificate II qualification will give him a career “head start”.

“Doing building construction still enables me to continue my HSC instead of dropping out and getting a trade – I can still do other subjects,” he said.

His classmate Ryan Flaherty said he intends to take on a university course too.

“If I pursue this construction course, I can make my own business out of it later in life,” he said.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell celebrated the expansion of employment options increased access to subsidised VET will provide.

“It’s about increasing the range of vocational and academic pathways available to ensure students, from all walks of life, leave school job-ready with skills they need to thrive in modern workplaces for the jobs of today and the future.”