Matthew Tukaki, the head of Sydney based Government Policy and IP organisation, SansGov (formerly known as Sanseman Government), has called for the development of a contingent loan scheme to assist those wanting to return to or participate in vocational and technical education. In addition Mr. Tukaki has told the Victorian State Government and the Australian Government that a change in how we manage education and conduct workforce planning is essential if the State, and the country, are going to keep pace with employment demand in critical areas such as information technology, infrastructure, agriculture and resources.  

The comments have been made in the SansGov submission to the Victorian State Governments review into “Skills Reform”, called for by the State Government in order to look at how skills and training for vocational and technical education could be better supported. The comments have also been directed to the Australian Government on the eve of the introduction of its new skills policy, where agreements still have not been signed with the States and industry.  

“One of the major points a number of commentators do not pick up on is the fact that our international student numbers are decreasing at a significant rate and this, in turn, has an impact on the number of skilled graduates who remain in Australia for work once their studies have been completed. The fact is, more and more international students are deciding to stay home and study and this in itself is a contributor to the breakdown in the education to employment supply chain”. Mr. Tukaki said. 

“Another important element that cannot be overlooked is the fact that Australia is right on the edge of the fastest growing economic region in the world. As developing nations develop, as employment growth expands and as real wages increase in our traditional labor supply markets, there is less of an attraction for workers to want to migrate to Australia for jobs. This means however much we debate the issues of skilled migration or guest worker programs the simple fact is, we cannot rely on consistent labor supply from Asia.” Mr. Tukaki said.  

“SansGov recommends if the Victorian and Australian Governments are serious about skills reform, and judging by the review into skills reform by the Victorian Government, and the current Higher Education Review being undertaken by the Australian Government, then we need to have a look at how we can ‘re-supply” our own labor market, or alternatively enter into serious workforce planning to ensure we have consistent job numbers moving forward.” Mr. Tukaki said.  

“By the State Governments own admission there are an estimated 1.4 million adult Victorians without any post school qualifications and there is going to be shortfall of 123,000 people at the advanced diploma and diploma level by 2015. We need to change the way we both manage and administer the education to employment supply chain and that means: 

1.        Doing more to integrate TAFE with years 9-12 of high school – transitioning kids to vocational and technical education without losing them to the welfare lines because they are not interested in staying at school

2.        Doing more to encourage older Victorians and the adult workforce to return to study or cross skill into other trades and jobs. This means the introduction of contingent loan scheme for vocational and technical education in the same form as has been developed for Universities and the Private Higher Education Providers

3.        Doing more to work with employers to offer tax breaks to encourage further learning and additional job training

4.        Doing more as a nation to plan for workforce changes, supply issues and funding arrangements 

Mr. Tukaki also noted with some concern that the Australian Governments approach to training had not yet been adopted as agreements between the States had not yet been finalized and the cost to business and industry had still not yet been agreed on: 

“The Australian Government has provided for a further 450,000 places, increased to 630,000 in this years budget – but we have to get people into training and we have to validate that the training being provided is going to result in employment. This means increasing activity at the employer level and school level – train, cross train and retrain should be the mantra moving forward.” Mr. Tukaki said.