Government priorities for VET
The NCVER has just released the latest data on government-funded VET activity (to 30 June 2021). The data allows comparisons over five years and shows some interesting trends.
Firstly at the provider level:
- 60% of all government funded VET enrolments were in TAFE in the six months to the end of June 202. TAFEs experienced a 17% increase between the first half of calendar year 2017 and the first half of 2021
- Private providers saw 32% of all government-funded enrolments and experienced a 32% increase over the same period
- 3% of government-funded enrolments were in community education and their enrolment share declined by 17% in the five year period
- Other providers received just 5% of government-funded enrolments between January and June 2021, but that represented a 34% increase from the same period in 2017.
By State and Territory there were also interesting differences. Against the national increase of 21% – the increases (decreases) at the jurisdictional level in the same period were:
- NSW: 36%
- Victoria: 1%
- Queensland: 33%
- South Australia: 30%
- Western Australia: 12%
- Tasmania: -2%
- ACT: 17%
- Northern Territory: -21%
Differences are also apparent in the government-funded enrolments in the Top 10 Training Packages in each jurisdiction.
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2017-2021 % inc | |
| NSW | ||||||
| Total | 287,765 | 304,290 | 320,155 | 391,850 | 390,755 | 36% |
| Non-training packages | 84,685 | 78,220 | 81,220 | 183,240 | 121,785 | 44% |
| Community Services (CHC) | 39,230 | 45,155 | 48,255 | 42,335 | 60,315 | 54% |
| Business Services (BSA, BSB) | 25,100 | 31,760 | 33,525 | 26,765 | 37,920 | 51% |
| Construction, Plumbing & Services Integrated Framework (BCF, BCG, BCP, CPC) | 22,860 | 24,800 | 25,735 | 22,070 | 26,355 | 15% |
| Health (HLT) | 8,095 | 9,785 | 12,035 | 12,365 | 16,030 | 98% |
| Electrotechnology (UEE, UTE, UTL) | 12,030 | 13,480 | 13,980 | 14,735 | 15,590 | 30% |
| Automotive Industry Retail, Service and Repair (AUR) | 10,430 | 10,165 | 11,045 | 10,035 | 11,805 | 13% |
| Tourism, Travel and Hospitality (SIT, THH, THT) | 12,475 | 11,205 | 11,570 | 8,980 | 10,620 | -15% |
| Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management (AGF, AGR, AHC, RTD, RTE, RTF, RUA, RUH) | 7,205 | 6,505 | 7,090 | 7,345 | 9,300 | 29% |
| Information and Communications Technology (ICA, ICT) | 6,655 | 7,050 | 7,415 | 6,425 | 8,930 | 34% |
| Victoria | ||||||
| Total | 244,630 | 222,770 | 232,010 | 210,500 | 246,615 | 1% |
| Community Services (CHC) | 41,860 | 41,335 | 44,030 | 45,730 | 57,385 | 37% |
| Non-training packages | 46,975 | 41,240 | 43,995 | 34,840 | 44,150 | -6% |
| Construction, Plumbing & Services Integrated Framework (BCF, BCG, BCP, CPC) | 26,645 | 26,955 | 28,090 | 27,645 | 32,285 | 21% |
| Health (HLT) | 11,520 | 11,285 | 11,925 | 12,935 | 16,715 | 45% |
| Electrotechnology (UEE, UTE, UTL) | 8,260 | 8,545 | 9,195 | 9,310 | 10,045 | 22% |
| Tourism, Travel and Hospitality (SIT, THH, THT) | 13,240 | 10,640 | 11,455 | 9,135 | 9,710 | -27% |
| Business Services (BSA, BSB) | 10,660 | 9,400 | 8,895 | 7,850 | 8,660 | -19% |
| Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management (AGF, AGR, AHC, RTD, RTE, RTF, RUA, RUH) | 7,490 | 6,205 | 6,830 | 6,315 | 7,235 | -3% |
| Hairdressing and Beauty Services (SHB, SIB, SIH, WRB, WRH) | 6,475 | 5,480 | 5,165 | 4,870 | 6,165 | -5% |
| Automotive Industry Retail, Service and Repair (AUR) | 8,125 | 6,690 | 6,265 | 5,475 | 6,020 | -26% |
| Queensland | ||||||
| Total | 157,695 | 166,230 | 175,535 | 182,725 | 210,100 | 33% |
| Community Services (CHC) | 26,530 | 31,660 | 34,090 | 36,935 | 42,150 | 59% |
| Non-training packages | 4,930 | 9,275 | 12,320 | 14,945 | 22,770 | 362% |
| Construction, Plumbing & Services Integrated Framework (BCF, BCG, BCP, CPC) | 15,900 | 16,240 | 15,060 | 12,915 | 15,795 | -1% |
| Tourism, Travel and Hospitality (SIT, THH, THT) | 15,660 | 14,145 | 15,020 | 14,625 | 14,770 | -6% |
| Health (HLT) | 5,950 | 7,875 | 9,275 | 11,035 | 13,780 | 132% |
| Metal and Engineering (MEM) | 8,290 | 8,815 | 10,340 | 10,170 | 13,050 | 57% |
| Business Services (BSA, BSB) | 9,740 | 10,305 | 10,550 | 11,260 | 11,800 | 21% |
| Electrotechnology (UEE, UTE, UTL) | 7,505 | 8,595 | 9,150 | 9,045 | 10,405 | 39% |
| Automotive Industry Retail, Service and Repair (AUR) | 6,555 | 6,945 | 7,340 | 7,650 | 9,545 | 46% |
| Foundation Skills (FSK) | 7,975 | 7,300 | 7,340 | 7,210 | 6,995 | -12% |
| South Australia | ||||||
| Total | 40,640 | 36,730 | 46,150 | 44,620 | 52,790 | 30% |
| Community Services (CHC) | 6,005 | 6,540 | 9,070 | 9,785 | 12,240 | 104% |
| Non-training packages | 7,145 | 6,220 | 5,610 | 3,505 | 7,015 | -2% |
| Construction, Plumbing & Services Integrated Framework (BCF, BCG, BCP, CPC) | 3,450 | 3,335 | 4,120 | 3,845 | 4,785 | 39% |
| Electrotechnology (UEE, UTE, UTL) | 2,225 | 2,205 | 3,020 | 3,185 | 3,670 | 65% |
| Business Services (BSA, BSB) | 1,810 | 1,755 | 2,210 | 2,475 | 2,980 | 65% |
| Automotive Industry Retail, Service and Repair (AUR) | 1,810 | 1,700 | 2,390 | 2,495 | 2,630 | 45% |
| Health (HLT) | 1,875 | 1,860 | 2,270 | 2,445 | 2,460 | 31% |
| Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management (AGF, AGR, AHC, RTD, RTE, RTF, RUA, RUH) | 2,080 | 1,500 | 2,140 | 1,935 | 2,430 | 17% |
| Tourism, Travel and Hospitality (SIT, THH, THT) | 1,940 | 1,505 | 2,110 | 1,960 | 1,840 | -5% |
| Metal and Engineering (MEM) | 1,150 | 965 | 1,425 | 1,510 | 1,745 | 52% |
| Western Australia | ||||||
| Total | 92,910 | 60,095 | 78,720 | 83,100 | 103,605 | 12% |
| Non-training packages | 27,355 | 17,095 | 24,680 | 27,840 | 37,390 | 37% |
| Community Services (CHC) | 9,980 | 7,730 | 9,805 | 11,765 | 14,160 | 42% |
| Electrotechnology (UEE, UTE, UTL) | 4,730 | 3,670 | 4,725 | 4,845 | 5,715 | 21% |
| Business Services (BSA, BSB) | 6,715 | 4,035 | 4,910 | 4,870 | 5,300 | -21% |
| Automotive Industry Retail, Service and Repair (AUR) | 3,240 | 2,495 | 3,400 | 3,800 | 5,065 | 56% |
| Metal and Engineering (MEM) | 3,890 | 2,250 | 3,480 | 3,720 | 4,715 | 21% |
| Tourism, Travel and Hospitality (SIT, THH, THT) | 4,475 | 3,430 | 3,770 | 3,715 | 3,820 | -15% |
| Health (HLT) | 3,125 | 2,420 | 2,870 | 3,070 | 3,740 | 20% |
| Construction, Plumbing & Services Integrated Framework (BCF, BCG, BCP, CPC) | 4,440 | 2,150 | 2,620 | 2,420 | 3,015 | -32% |
| Resources and Infrastructure (BCC, DRT, MNC, MNM, MNQ, RII) | 2,815 | 1,170 | 1,730 | 1,970 | 2,485 | -12% |
| Tasmania | ||||||
| Total | 19,235 | 18,795 | 18,240 | 16,415 | 18,835 | -2% |
| Community Services (CHC) | 3,140 | 2,910 | 2,540 | 2,865 | 2,790 | -11% |
| Business Services (BSA, BSB) | 2,225 | 2,175 | 2,010 | 2,125 | 2,620 | 18% |
| Construction, Plumbing & Services Integrated Framework (BCF, BCG, BCP, CPC) | 1,280 | 1,645 | 1,825 | 1,810 | 2,540 | 98% |
| Non-training packages | 3,430 | 3,075 | 2,990 | 1,810 | 2,365 | -31% |
| Automotive Industry Retail, Service and Repair (AUR) | 530 | 635 | 695 | 670 | 730 | 38% |
| Electrotechnology (UEE, UTE, UTL) | 555 | 570 | 575 | 650 | 730 | 32% |
| Tourism, Travel and Hospitality (SIT, THH, THT) | 1,040 | 950 | 780 | 685 | 705 | -32% |
| Metal and Engineering (MEM) | 450 | 530 | 570 | 565 | 700 | 56% |
| Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management (AGF, AGR, AHC, RTD, RTE, RTF, RUA, RUH) | 630 | 400 | 560 | 485 | 605 | -4% |
| Retail Services (SIR, WRP, WRR, WRW) | 1,160 | 915 | 685 | 395 | 600 | -48% |
| Northern Territory | ||||||
| Total | 12,770 | 10,825 | 9,655 | 8,265 | 10,100 | -21% |
| Community Services (CHC) | 2,045 | 2,105 | 1,545 | 1,530 | 1,650 | -19% |
| Non-training packages | 1,160 | 555 | 695 | 380 | 1,220 | 5% |
| Business Services (BSA, BSB) | 1,850 | 1,880 | 1,135 | 810 | 830 | -55% |
| Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management (AGF, AGR, AHC, RTD, RTE, RTF, RUA, RUH) | 835 | 615 | 575 | 400 | 720 | -14% |
| Construction, Plumbing & Services Integrated Framework (BCF, BCG, BCP, CPC) | 715 | 560 | 755 | 635 | 720 | 1% |
| Automotive Industry Retail, Service and Repair (AUR) | 680 | 440 | 505 | 555 | 620 | -9% |
| Electrotechnology (UEE, UTE, UTL) | 695 | 720 | 690 | 730 | 605 | -13% |
| Resources and Infrastructure (BCC, DRT, MNC, MNM, MNQ, RII) | 600 | 250 | 245 | 240 | 390 | -35% |
| Tourism, Travel and Hospitality (SIT, THH, THT) | 665 | 440 | 490 | 450 | 380 | -43% |
| Police (POL) | 15 | 210 | 215 | 165 | 345 | 2200% |
| ACT | ||||||
| Total | 11,725 | 12,165 | 13,030 | 9,560 | 13,695 | 17% |
| Community Services (CHC) | 2,530 | 2,805 | 2,875 | 2,390 | 3,190 | 26% |
| Non-training packages | 750 | 1,015 | 1,265 | 1,090 | 1,745 | 133% |
| Business Services (BSA, BSB) | 1,535 | 1,425 | 1,455 | 1,140 | 1,675 | 9% |
| Construction, Plumbing & Services Integrated Framework (BCF, BCG, BCP, CPC) | 895 | 940 | 890 | 760 | 935 | 4% |
| Electrotechnology (UEE, UTE, UTL) | 595 | 670 | 790 | 585 | 825 | 39% |
| Tourism, Travel and Hospitality (SIT, THH, THT) | 880 | 695 | 625 | 705 | 715 | -19% |
| Information and Communications Technology (ICA, ICT) | 630 | 635 | 635 | 380 | 620 | -2% |
| Public Services (PSP) | 190 | 310 | 475 | 515 | 480 | 153% |
| Health (HLT) | 350 | 305 | 415 | 320 | 440 | 26% |
| Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management (AGF, AGR, AHC, RTD, RTE, RTF, RUA, RUH) | 250 | 235 | 340 | 85 | 395 | 58% |
Non-training package program enrolments are not specifically defined in the AVETMIS Standard. They are not enrolments in full qualifications or skillsets from Training Packages. I understand therefore that they are enrolments in (predominantly) TAFE-developed accredited courses and in some skillsets which are not specified in a Training Package but which a State or Territory government may develop them themselves or their TAFEs have developed. For example, the NSW government has allocated JobTrainer funding to ‘skillsets’ which they have labeled “NSW Short Course – Statement of Attainment in …”
Subject-only enrolments are separately accounted for in the NCVER data.
