Last night Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered his third budget with a significant focus on education, training and industry in what the Government describes as providing cost of living relief, while investing in the promise and potential of a more prosperous future. In summary, these are the initiatives that will impact our sector:
¡¤ From 1 January 2025 a cap on international student enrolments for both Higher Education and VET sectors. Universities will be required to establish additional purpose-built student accommodation for both international and domestic students if they want to exceed their cap. For VET providers the government ¡°will consult with the sector on a mechanism to distribute VET international student enrolments¡±.
¡¤ $1.6 billion over 5 years to reform tertiary education, including $1.1 billion for reforms to university funding and tertiary system governance.
¡¤ Over $500 million will be provided for skills and training in priority industries and to support women¡¯s participation in these sectors.
¡¤ A tertiary attainment target of 80 per cent of the working‑age population by 2050.
¡¤ Student teachers, nurses, midwives and social workers to be paid $319.50 a week during mandatory work placements starting July 2025.
¡¤ A cut of $3 billion from student debt for more than 3 million students by indexing HECS and HELP debts to the lower of the consumer price index or the wage price index, backdated to June 2023.
¡¤ From January 2026, needs‑based funding will provide per student funding contributions for under‑represented students. The Government will also provide $350.3 million to fully fund university enabling courses and increase pathways for prospective students to university.
¡¤ Expanding eligibility to the New Energy Apprenticeships Program to include work in the clean energy sector, including construction and advanced manufacturing. This will provide access to $10,000 incentive payments and support the Government¡¯s target of 10,000 new energy apprentices.
¡¤ Committing $30 million to turbocharge the VET teaching workforce for clean energy courses and $50 million to upgrade and expand clean energy training facilities.
¡¤ Investing $55.6 million to establish the Building Women¡¯s Careers program to support women¡¯s participation in key industries including clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
¡¤ The $5,000 support payments to apprentices in priority occupations will be maintained for another 12 months to 1 July 2025. Employers of these apprentices will receive a $5,000 hiring incentive to provide certainty to apprentices while the Strategic Review of the Apprenticeship Incentive System is underway.
¡¤ $88.8 million to deliver 20,000 new fee‑free TAFE places including pre‑apprenticeships in courses relevant to the construction sector.
¡¤ $1.8 million to deliver streamlined skills assessments for around 1,900 migrants from comparable countries to work in Australia¡¯s housing construction industry.
There is much to digest and a lot of detail yet to be delivered. The draft International Education and Skills Strategic Framework released over the weekend also referenced student caps and other measures impacting our sector. We eagerly anticipate further details regarding these announcements so that our industry can operate with confidence.
As ever, we will continue to lobby in the best interests of our students and the education and training sector, and we welcome your continued input on these measures to better inform our advocacy on your behalf. |
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