❓ Ms. Lai asks about VET opportunities for secondary students and how VET pathways help students secure jobs in priority industries. The Minister responds by highlighting the government's commitment to TAFE and VET, citing examples of successful pathways and initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 556Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Vocational education and training
556. Ms Sook Yee Lai to
the Minister for Skills and TAFE:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to developing a skilled and productive workforce.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the
vocational education and training opportunities available to secondary
students?
(2) Can the minister advise how VET pathways are
helping students secure quality jobs in priority industries?
556. Ms Sook Yee Lai to
the Minister for Skills and TAFE:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to developing a skilled and productive workforce.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the
vocational education and training opportunities available to secondary
students?
(2) Can the minister advise how VET pathways are
helping students secure quality jobs in priority industries?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for Bibra Lake
for her question and the rousing endorsement of her caucus colleagues! I
acknowledge the member's role in our education system as a former teacher and
her understanding of how important vocational education and training is. We on
this side know that affordable and accessible TAFE makes jobs, health and
housing possible. The "You can make it here" campaign highlights the
many young people considering their study options and future careers. Trade and
technical training will be critically important for our state, in particular in
the next five, 10 and 20 years, as we move towards our energy transition and
expand our shipbuilding capability.
Vocational learning is critical
to the education system. Not everyone goes through the ATAR stream—not
everyone wants to. My eldest child chose the VET stream, and it was the right
stream for her. We have to provide choices for kids, particularly when they
reach years 10, 11 and 12. The VET Delivered to Secondary Students program enables
students in years 10 to 12 to experience TAFE whilst also going to school and
completing their Western Australian Certificate of Education. It is a really
important way for young people to explore and understand what they want to do
without necessarily going down the university pathway. TAFE is having a
significant impact in health, aged care, building and construction, IT and
defence. Last year, there were 12,000 VET enrolments across schools alone.
Students can earn nationally recognised qualifications and graduate with
industry-relevant skills.
We know
that our health system runs on incredibly skilled workers. Nurses are an incredibly
important part of that. Our nursing workforce is the biggest workforce in
our health system. In my view, the enrolled nurse pathway is one of the best
pathways into nursing. It is very practical and hands-on, and free for Western
Australian students. As I said, it has a large practical component so that students
really understand what they are getting into, what nursing looks like, how they
can apply to work in aged care, hospital settings, a surgery setting and a range
of other settings. If they choose to, they can work and study to become a
registered nurse as well. It is such a good pathway. Enrolled nurses are
absolutely gold.
I want to talk about Bridie, a student
at North Metropolitan TAFE's McLarty campus. She did TAFE one day a week during
years 11 and 12 while she was at Duncraig Senior High School. She completed her
Cert IV in Preparation for Health and Nursing Studies. These skill sets that
TAFE offer—not three-year courses, necessarily—give students an
opportunity to understand what a vocation is like, what skills are required, if
it is right for them and what they need to do to further advance. That skill
set meant that she was ready to transition into a fee-free Diploma of Nursing.
Her motivation stems from her personal experience when she helped care for a
close family member who had Alzheimer's. She loved her practical component and
found it incredibly rewarding. She has now found further placements. She chose
that VET pathway because it is straightforward and free. She was drawn to the
hands-on nature that practical TAFE offers.
This government knows that TAFE
is critical to delivering a skilled pipeline of workers and that is why, for
people like Bridie and other students, the TAFE pathway from school is a way to
understand what they want to do and to find their career. It is this government
that is supporting the next generation.
for her question and the rousing endorsement of her caucus colleagues! I
acknowledge the member's role in our education system as a former teacher and
her understanding of how important vocational education and training is. We on
this side know that affordable and accessible TAFE makes jobs, health and
housing possible. The "You can make it here" campaign highlights the
many young people considering their study options and future careers. Trade and
technical training will be critically important for our state, in particular in
the next five, 10 and 20 years, as we move towards our energy transition and
expand our shipbuilding capability.
Vocational learning is critical
to the education system. Not everyone goes through the ATAR stream—not
everyone wants to. My eldest child chose the VET stream, and it was the right
stream for her. We have to provide choices for kids, particularly when they
reach years 10, 11 and 12. The VET Delivered to Secondary Students program enables
students in years 10 to 12 to experience TAFE whilst also going to school and
completing their Western Australian Certificate of Education. It is a really
important way for young people to explore and understand what they want to do
without necessarily going down the university pathway. TAFE is having a
significant impact in health, aged care, building and construction, IT and
defence. Last year, there were 12,000 VET enrolments across schools alone.
Students can earn nationally recognised qualifications and graduate with
industry-relevant skills.
We know
that our health system runs on incredibly skilled workers. Nurses are an incredibly
important part of that. Our nursing workforce is the biggest workforce in
our health system. In my view, the enrolled nurse pathway is one of the best
pathways into nursing. It is very practical and hands-on, and free for Western
Australian students. As I said, it has a large practical component so that students
really understand what they are getting into, what nursing looks like, how they
can apply to work in aged care, hospital settings, a surgery setting and a range
of other settings. If they choose to, they can work and study to become a
registered nurse as well. It is such a good pathway. Enrolled nurses are
absolutely gold.
I want to talk about Bridie, a student
at North Metropolitan TAFE's McLarty campus. She did TAFE one day a week during
years 11 and 12 while she was at Duncraig Senior High School. She completed her
Cert IV in Preparation for Health and Nursing Studies. These skill sets that
TAFE offer—not three-year courses, necessarily—give students an
opportunity to understand what a vocation is like, what skills are required, if
it is right for them and what they need to do to further advance. That skill
set meant that she was ready to transition into a fee-free Diploma of Nursing.
Her motivation stems from her personal experience when she helped care for a
close family member who had Alzheimer's. She loved her practical component and
found it incredibly rewarding. She has now found further placements. She chose
that VET pathway because it is straightforward and free. She was drawn to the
hands-on nature that practical TAFE offers.
This government knows that TAFE
is critical to delivering a skilled pipeline of workers and that is why, for
people like Bridie and other students, the TAFE pathway from school is a way to
understand what they want to do and to find their career. It is this government
that is supporting the next generation.
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