❓ Opposition questions the Minister regarding the Future Skills WA program, citing fee increases, enrolment drops, and reduced access for vulnerable individuals. The Minister acknowledges enrolment decline in general industry qualifications and commits to adjustments.
AnsweredQoN 826Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FUTURE
SKILLS WA
826. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH to
the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Training and Workforce Development:
(1) Can the
Minister for Training and Workforce Development explain why the Future Skills
entitlement model in WA has led to massive fee increases, a 22 per cent drop in
enrolments and a shut-out of the most vulnerable in the community from
accessing vocational training in technical and further education?
(2) What, if
anything, is the minister doing to address these negative impacts of the model
on the training system?
SKILLS WA
826. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH to
the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Training and Workforce Development:
(1) Can the
Minister for Training and Workforce Development explain why the Future Skills
entitlement model in WA has led to massive fee increases, a 22 per cent drop in
enrolments and a shut-out of the most vulnerable in the community from
accessing vocational training in technical and further education?
(2) What, if
anything, is the minister doing to address these negative impacts of the model
on the training system?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Future Skills
WA has been designed to offer more choice to students in qualifications that
are in demand and meet the projected skill needs of the Western Australian
labour market. As part of the changes introduced in January 2014, fees were
adjusted to address declining student fee contributions, which represented on
average around eight per cent of the total costs of training, as well as
encouraging students into priority qualifications through relatively higher
subsidies and lower fees. Recent July data indicates that the model is
generally working well with a 4.1 per cent increase in enrolments in overall
priority training areas. However, there has also been a decline in enrolments
in general industry qualifications, which the Minister for Training and Workforce
Development is committed to address.
(2) I refer to
statements made by the Minister for Training and Workforce Development on 26 June
this year; it is clear that he wants the level of training in Western Australia
to increase. The minister stated that he will be adjusting the settings of
Future Skills WA to address the overall decline in enrolments.
some notice of the question.
(1) Future Skills
WA has been designed to offer more choice to students in qualifications that
are in demand and meet the projected skill needs of the Western Australian
labour market. As part of the changes introduced in January 2014, fees were
adjusted to address declining student fee contributions, which represented on
average around eight per cent of the total costs of training, as well as
encouraging students into priority qualifications through relatively higher
subsidies and lower fees. Recent July data indicates that the model is
generally working well with a 4.1 per cent increase in enrolments in overall
priority training areas. However, there has also been a decline in enrolments
in general industry qualifications, which the Minister for Training and Workforce
Development is committed to address.
(2) I refer to
statements made by the Minister for Training and Workforce Development on 26 June
this year; it is clear that he wants the level of training in Western Australia
to increase. The minister stated that he will be adjusting the settings of
Future Skills WA to address the overall decline in enrolments.
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