VET fail: Shock data exposes hidden non-completion crisis in vocational education – despite billions being spent
An appalling number of VET courses begun in 2020 remain unfinished, even as the federal government pours billions of dollars into TAFE to fix the skills crisis.
More than half of all vocational education and training (VET) students do not complete their qualification within four years of starting, despite billions of dollars of federal government investment in the sector.
Just 49 per cent of all VET qualifications begun in 2020 were completed by the end of the 2024, according to a report released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) on Monday.
While the figure represented a 1.5 per cent increase compared to 2019 commencements, it still means 51 per cent of qualifications started are not finished.
This includes much-promoted free TAFE courses funded by the federal government.
The highest completion rates are for natural and physical sciences qualifications, at 67.5 per cent, and the lowest rates are for mixed field programs, at 34.2 per cent, which include literacy, numeracy and interpersonal skills training.
NCVER managing director John King said it was “encouraging” to see the qualification rates rise, particularly for a cohort who began their training during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Based on current trends in the data, we forecast completion rates as likely to continue improving,” he said.
Mr King said completion rates are an important performance indicator, with a completed qualification being an entry-level requirement for some occupations.
“The broader challenge in VET is to lift both commencements and completion rates in areas of high labour market demand and for priority learner groups. The Certificate III in Individual Support is a great example, with both commencements and completion rates growing since 2016 in a qualification that’s fundamental to Australia’s expanding care industry,” he said.
The report highlighted that students discontinue their training for many reason, including a change in their job situation.
“Students often change qualifications, with almost one in four discontinuers in 2023 having commenced further study by the following year. More than three in four discontinuers in 2023 achieved their main reason for training,” the report said.
Lifting the rate of VET completions was identified as a priority initiative of the $30bn National Skills Agreement, of which a five-year joint agreement between the Commonwealth and state and territory governments began on January 1 2024.
That agreement provided states and territories with access to $3.7 billion in funds over five years, and took the total Commonwealth investment in state and territory training systems to $12.6bn.
Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles said the government was backing Australians to get the skills they want.
“We know that over the course of study and training students and apprentices can face different hurdles in their life, which is why the measures we’re backing to improve VET completions are so important – including targeted student support services such as mental health and financial assistance, mentoring, and utilising grassroots experiences in regional communities to best deliver support,” Mr Giles said.
“This work to strengthen VET is focused on ensuring no-one is left behind, targeting support to where it matters most.”
More Coverage
Originally published as VET fail: Shock data exposes hidden non-completion crisis in vocational education – despite billions being spent
