❓ Mr. Logan questions the Minister about a drop in training enrolments following a fee increase, particularly for those aged 30-49. The Minister attributes the overall decline to economic factors but highlights a rise in priority skills enrolments due to the Future Skills WA policy.
AnsweredQoN 694Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TRAINING ENROLMENT FIGURES
694. Mr F.M. LOGAN to the Minister for
Training and Workforce Development:
I draw the minister's
attention to the recently released training enrolment figures for 2013–14.
(1) Does the
minister acknowledge that the average drop-off of 13.43 per cent in course
enrolments for certificate IV to advanced diploma is a direct consequence of
his government's massive 500 per cent plus hike in fees for these
studies?
(2) Why has the
minister allowed this drop-off in higher educational course enrolments when the
figures show a massive decline in the numbers of enrolled students aged between
30 and 49 years—the people who are out there looking for work right
now?
694. Mr F.M. LOGAN to the Minister for
Training and Workforce Development:
I draw the minister's
attention to the recently released training enrolment figures for 2013–14.
(1) Does the
minister acknowledge that the average drop-off of 13.43 per cent in course
enrolments for certificate IV to advanced diploma is a direct consequence of
his government's massive 500 per cent plus hike in fees for these
studies?
(2) Why has the
minister allowed this drop-off in higher educational course enrolments when the
figures show a massive decline in the numbers of enrolled students aged between
30 and 49 years—the people who are out there looking for work right
now?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
(1)–(2) The
member is referring to the government's Future Skills WA policy
initiative. With Future Skills, we made a deliberate decision as a government
to put the maximum amount of subsidisation of our training programs towards
priority skills areas for which we know there are employment outcomes. As a
result of that policy, we have seen a nine per cent increase in enrolments in priority
skills areas, which are the areas that industry tells us it needs people to be
trained in, and in which there are jobs for those people.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Cockburn!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Notwithstanding that, there has been a nine per cent increase
in the priority skills areas in the context of an overall four per cent decline
in enrolments. That four per cent decline is across a broad range of areas of
training.
Mr
F.M. Logan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cockburn, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Members might be interested to understand that in the training
market, training enrolments flex and contract with the economy. When we have
large industries contracting with respect to their training contracts with our
state training providers, we obviously see a consequential decline in
enrolments. As industry contracts, we see positions and enrolments in training
in certain areas also contract. But I am actually really pleased to see that we
have a nine per cent increase in enrolments in our priority skills areas. Of
those people, 85 to 90 per cent who go through a training program in our
priority skills areas go on to either employment or further education. That is
the outcome we want; the policy is working.
(1)–(2) The
member is referring to the government's Future Skills WA policy
initiative. With Future Skills, we made a deliberate decision as a government
to put the maximum amount of subsidisation of our training programs towards
priority skills areas for which we know there are employment outcomes. As a
result of that policy, we have seen a nine per cent increase in enrolments in priority
skills areas, which are the areas that industry tells us it needs people to be
trained in, and in which there are jobs for those people.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Cockburn!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Notwithstanding that, there has been a nine per cent increase
in the priority skills areas in the context of an overall four per cent decline
in enrolments. That four per cent decline is across a broad range of areas of
training.
Mr
F.M. Logan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cockburn, I call you to order for the first time.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Members might be interested to understand that in the training
market, training enrolments flex and contract with the economy. When we have
large industries contracting with respect to their training contracts with our
state training providers, we obviously see a consequential decline in
enrolments. As industry contracts, we see positions and enrolments in training
in certain areas also contract. But I am actually really pleased to see that we
have a nine per cent increase in enrolments in our priority skills areas. Of
those people, 85 to 90 per cent who go through a training program in our
priority skills areas go on to either employment or further education. That is
the outcome we want; the policy is working.
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