A record amount of almost $700 million will be injected into skills funding in South Australia over the next five years.
The $692.6 million over five years will lift total investment under the new National Skills Agreement to $2.3 billion in partnership with the Commonwealth.
The funding will support TAFE SA, not-for-profits and other non-government training providers and includes:
* $275.6 million for over 160,000 training places over the next five years at TAFE SA and other training providers, prioritising the future skills needs of the state in areas including defence, health, building and construction, early childhood education, clean energy transition and ICT. This includes a 20 per cent increase in TAFE SA places in regional SA.
* A $62.6 million injection to ensure high quality training – including a boost to audits and investigations to ensure all training providers and employers meet their obligations. This includes a strong focus on apprenticeship safety and addressing any unacceptable behaviour from the training system.
* $56.2 million to support students and increase training completion rates. This includes additional funding for financial and wellbeing supports, such as help to find secure housing and manage financial stress. Accessibility to career and course information will be improved and more students will be able to access foundational skills programs.
* $53.1 million to increase the VET workforce, develop new curriculum to meet the state’s economic priorities and investment in teaching plant and equipment and student infrastructure.
* $18.3 million for Closing the Gap initiatives that deliver culturally safe and respectful education to First Nations students through Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation training providers and TAFE SA to support lifting the proportion of Aboriginal people with a Certificate III or above.
* $13.3 million to support the state’s workforce planning and defence industries pathways program to get more school leavers to take up defence traineeships.
* $9.0 million to support place-based responses in regional areas to connect learners, employers and trainers to get people into training and work where it is needed most.
