The vast majority of Victorians believe a properly funded public TAFE sector is essential to tackling the looming skills crisis and helping workers retrain when their circumstances change, according to new polling.
A survey of more than 2500 Victorians, conducted on behalf of the Victorian TAFE Association (VTA), found 89 per cent of voters equated TAFE funding with training the workers needed to support housing construction, healthcare, aged care, childcare, and the state’s infrastructure needs.
In addition, 84 per cent said TAFEs were critical for helping workers retrain quickly when industries or circumstances changed, while 82 per cent called on the Victorian government to expand TAFE retraining and upskilling to help workers adapt to new technology, including artificial intelligence (AI).
The findings coincide with the inaugural Jobs and Skills Month, which comes as the nation’s workplaces face unprecedented change and increasing demand for skilled labour.
VTA Chief Executive Officer Alex White said the polling confirmed that Victorians valued the role of public TAFEs and dual-sector universities in helping people gain skills, secure meaningful employment, and create brighter futures for themselves and their communities.
“The Victorian TAFE system welcomes more than 200,000 students through its doors each year,” he said.
“Whether it’s a young person beginning their career, a parent returning to the workforce, or someone retraining for a new industry, 91 per cent of TAFE learners achieve their employment goals.
“Beyond that, we can see more and more large employers partnering with the TAFE sector to design courses and qualifications for their workforce.
“Almost 60 per cent of employers who use apprentices or trainees use TAFE as their primary training provider, while the number of Victorian employers using TAFE has jumped 10 per cent in the past two years.”
The polling also confirmed that Victorians were worried about AI impacting their jobs, with women (70 per cent) and low-income earners (68 per cent) reporting the highest levels of concern.
TAFEs play a critical role in supporting mid-career professionals to upskill or reskill. 30 percent of learners who enroll in a vocational qualification already have a bachelor’s degree or higher, which shows how important TAFE is for life-long learning and career advancement.
The main reasons cited by students include trying for a different career (24%), getting a new job (17%), or gaining extra skills for their existing job (15%).
Students who have retrained at a Victorian TAFE include:
Jo Moloney, who went from being a burnt-out bookkeeper to an award-winning landscape gardener after studying Certificate III in Horticulture at Chisholm TAFE.
“My love of gardening and plants began when I was a child, so choosing to return to study to become a gardener felt like I was coming home.”
Anton Amalfi, a former roof plumber who is now working in commercial partnerships at the Essendon Football Club after studying a dual Diploma in Business and Leadership at the Essendon Education Academy (a collaboration with RMIT’s vocational education arm)
“If there’s one thing I have learned, it’s that it’s never too late to back yourself, take a chance and pursue something you are really passionate about.”
Kyle Milner, who completed a Bachelor of Science at Melbourne University and then opted to return to his hometown of Mildura to do an apprenticeship alongside a Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician at SuniTAFE.
“Quitting university was one of the hardest things I’ve done, and people questioned my decision. But as an apprentice, I’ve thrived on the opportunities I have had to learn and apply my knowledge in the electrical field.”
Mr White said Jobs and Skills Month was an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of TAFE students, teachers and staff, and to recognise the vital contribution public vocational education makes to improving the lives of all Victorians.
“TAFE is one of the most powerful tools for social and economic inclusion in Victoria,” he said.
“When we invest in TAFE, the benefits are felt by employers who gain access to skilled workers, by industries facing workforce shortages, and by communities that depend on essential services delivered by highly trained professionals.”
ENDS
Media contact
Jenny Stramilos
Strategic Communications Manager
Victorian TAFE Association
jstramilos@vta.vic.edu.au
0412 870 220
About the Victorian TAFE Association
The Victorian TAFE Association (VTA) is the peak body for the Victorian TAFE sector, comprising Victoria’s 12 TAFE Institutes, four dual sector universities and AMES Australia. We proudly champion public vocational education and training (VET) with a focus on sustainability, quality, and outcomes for learners, industry, and community.