Growth in Australian VET students variable

July 7 2008

Growth in student numbers in Australia's public vocational education and training (VET) system varied between the states and territories in 2007.

Today's release of Australian vocational education and training statistics: Students and courses 2007 shows the largest increases occurred in Tasmania (up 5.0%), Northern Territory (up 4.3%) and Western Australia (up 3.7%).

Strong growth also occurred among Indigenous students (4.5% increase) and students from non-English speaking backgrounds (5.1% increase).

A profile of student enrolments also shows that the national training system continues to be popular with younger people (43.2% were aged 24 years and under) and a significant number of students study part-time (88.1%).

As well as data focused on students and participation, the release also includes statistics on courses and qualifications, subject results and the type of funding delivered in 2007.

Studying higher level certificate III and IV qualifications continues to be a popular choice, the statistics showing that almost 30% of students enrolled undertook a certificate III qualification.

In 2007, compared with 2006 the number of students undertaking a certificate IV qualification increased by 6.2% to 188 700.

Overall, 1.67 million students were enrolled in Australia's public VET system in 2007, which equates to one in nine people in Australia aged 15 to 64 years undertaking training within the system.

Management and commerce was the most common field of education (20.3%) followed by Engineering and related technologies (16.7%).

To download a copy of the Australian vocational education and training statistics: Students and courses 2007 please visit: www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2019.html

Media enquiries: Anna Payton, Marketing Officer, or Chris Booth, Marketing Manager on +61 8 8230 8400.