Private training plays a significant role in Australia's skill development: New national study

The results of a first-time national study, released today by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), reveal that private registered training organisations (RTOs) play a significant role in the provision of training and skill development in Australia.

The study, conducted by Roger Harris and colleagues from the University of South Australia, is the first to describe the nature and contribution of the private vocational education and training (VET) sector on a national basis. It is based on a survey of 330 private RTOs which provided training in 2003.

The study reveals that private RTOs are a very diverse group of training providers, which include adult/community providers, enterprise-based providers, industry organisations, as well as commercial training organisations.

Private RTOs offer a wide range of accredited and non-accredited VET courses across the full range of the Australian Qualifications Framework. Most deliver in only one state/territory and training is largely delivered face to face. The majority are small enterprises, with over three quarters of the sample employing 20 or fewer staff.

The study finds that an estimated 470 000 full-time students and around 1.7 million part-time students undertook training with a private RTO in 2003. This includes one private organisation that provided training to 290 000 part-time students that year.

'This study provides us with some understanding of the training activity of private RTOs. The next step is to get measures of delivery hours and qualifications awarded by private RTOs,' says Dr Tom Karmel, Managing Director, NCVER.

'Until this is done, we will not have any real idea how big the private sector really is' he said.

ENDS

An copy of Private training providers in Australia: their characteristics and training activities, can be accessed from 9.30am EST today, from http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/1688.html.

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