Campaign quotes
What stakeholders and experts are saying about the Victorian Government's skills reforms. Includes formal submissions to download.
Victorian Trades Hall Council
"In practice the user choice system places a premium on the short term needs of the individual employer as the client. The reality is that the apprentice or the student does not choose." »more...
"In practice the user choice system places a premium on the short term needs of the individual employer as the client. The reality is that the apprentice or the student does not choose." »more...
Victorian TAFE Association
"Potential de-regulation of fees could lead to destructive price competition for more attractive market share at the expense of the overall viability of the public provider which must retain “full service” capacity." (PDF) »more...
"Potential de-regulation of fees could lead to destructive price competition for more attractive market share at the expense of the overall viability of the public provider which must retain “full service” capacity." (PDF) »more...
Minerals Council of Australia
"The MCA does not support the introduction of a voucher or ‘training entitlement’ system managed by individuals in light of past experience of such systems which have been seen to encourage unscrupulous providers to ‘cherry pick’ low cost courses and take advantage of unsuspecting individuals." (PDF) »more...
"The MCA does not support the introduction of a voucher or ‘training entitlement’ system managed by individuals in light of past experience of such systems which have been seen to encourage unscrupulous providers to ‘cherry pick’ low cost courses and take advantage of unsuspecting individuals." (PDF) »more...
Louise Watson, Campus Review
"Experience suggests that when governments provide funding to public and private providers under a voucher model, problems arise in the areas of equality, infrastructure and service quality." (Campus Review, August 19, 2008, p13) »more...
"Experience suggests that when governments provide funding to public and private providers under a voucher model, problems arise in the areas of equality, infrastructure and service quality." (Campus Review, August 19, 2008, p13) »more...
Australian Nursing Federation (Vic)
"The notion of unfettered user choice seriously underplays the key role of workforce strategies, which anticipate the numbers of workers, and the skills required for the short, medium and long term." »more...
"The notion of unfettered user choice seriously underplays the key role of workforce strategies, which anticipate the numbers of workers, and the skills required for the short, medium and long term." »more...
Manufacturing and Engineering Skills Advisory Board
"(The Board) questions whether changes based on ‘contestability’ will not lead to a system that reports more outcomes but disguises poor quality training, and poor outcomes for individuals … Another significant concern with contestability suggestions is that of providers cherry-picking low cost, high demand areas and leaving publicly funded TAFE Institutes to service remaining areas." (PDF) »more...
"(The Board) questions whether changes based on ‘contestability’ will not lead to a system that reports more outcomes but disguises poor quality training, and poor outcomes for individuals … Another significant concern with contestability suggestions is that of providers cherry-picking low cost, high demand areas and leaving publicly funded TAFE Institutes to service remaining areas." (PDF) »more...
National Tertiary Education Union
"Governments will always find it easier to increase resources to education by increasing the student contributions rather than government contributions." »more...
"Governments will always find it easier to increase resources to education by increasing the student contributions rather than government contributions." »more...
Northern Metropolitan Institute of TAFE (NMIT)
"The suggested reforms ensure neither the quality of VET programs nor the delivery to match predicted skills shortages. Rather, the proposal appears to be one which concentrates on reforms to ensure reduced government recurrent funding with cost transference away from government on to individuals and employers." (PDF) »more...
"The suggested reforms ensure neither the quality of VET programs nor the delivery to match predicted skills shortages. Rather, the proposal appears to be one which concentrates on reforms to ensure reduced government recurrent funding with cost transference away from government on to individuals and employers." (PDF) »more...
Brotherhood of St Lawrence
"The tendency of disadvantaged individuals to eliminate themselves from the highest aspirations is well acknowledged in the sociological literature. There is also evidence that people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to be deterred from study by higher fees due to greater financial barriers and a reluctance to take on debt … We are not convinced that an income-contingent loan scheme would best meet the needs of some Victorians." (PDF) »more...
"The tendency of disadvantaged individuals to eliminate themselves from the highest aspirations is well acknowledged in the sociological literature. There is also evidence that people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to be deterred from study by higher fees due to greater financial barriers and a reluctance to take on debt … We are not convinced that an income-contingent loan scheme would best meet the needs of some Victorians." (PDF) »more...
Australian Nursing Federation
"The threat of incurring a debt that may never be paid and having a long term ‘debt shadow’ may be sufficient for individuals to reconsider entry into nursing...the debt may become a disincentive to full time employment, and may result in people working only part time." »more...
"The threat of incurring a debt that may never be paid and having a long term ‘debt shadow’ may be sufficient for individuals to reconsider entry into nursing...the debt may become a disincentive to full time employment, and may result in people working only part time." »more...
AEU Victorian Branch
"The AEU believes these reforms will lead to the effective privatisation of the public TAFE and VET systems, reduce public access to TAFE and VET courses and exacerbate Victoria's skills crisis. Furthermore, the union is deeply concerned at the accelerated timetable which would see these major reforms introduced from mid-2009." »more...
"The AEU believes these reforms will lead to the effective privatisation of the public TAFE and VET systems, reduce public access to TAFE and VET courses and exacerbate Victoria's skills crisis. Furthermore, the union is deeply concerned at the accelerated timetable which would see these major reforms introduced from mid-2009." »more...
Proudly funded & supported by:
