International onshore VET graduate outcomes 2018

Media release

15 May 2019

New data reveal 84.5% of international onshore students who completed a vocational education and training (VET) qualification with an Australian provider were satisfied with the overall quality of their training.

The report International onshore VET graduate outcomes 2018, compiled by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), provides a summary of the outcomes of international students who completed their VET qualification in Australia in 2017.

The report uses data collected in mid-2018 from the National Student Outcomes Survey.

Satisfaction levels were steady or fell slightly, with 87.5% saying they’d recommend their training (down 1.3 percentage points from 2017) and 84.8% saying they’d recommend their training provider (similar to 2017).

In terms of employment outcomes, 56.2% of international onshore VET graduates improved their employment status after training.  Of those employed before training, 21.0% were employed at a higher skill level after training.

For graduates looking for work after training, 92.4% reported facing at least one barrier, down 2.7 percentage points from 2017. The most commonly cited barrier was not having permanent residency or a work visa (47.6%), up 2.7 percentage points from 2017.

Around 47 600 international onshore VET graduates were invited to complete the survey, which collects information on students’ reasons for training, employment and further study outcomes and satisfaction with training.

It also provides information on the type of visa held by students.

International onshore VET graduate outcomes 2018 is now available from www.ncver.edu.au/publications.


About NCVER: we are the principal provider of research, statistics and data on Australia’s VET sector. Our services help promote better understanding of VET and assist policy-makers, practitioners, industry, training providers, and students to make informed decisions.

This work has been produced by NCVER on behalf of the Australian Government and state and territory governments, with funding provided through the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.

Enquiries: Helen Wildash, PR and Social Media Officer M: 0448 043 148 E: helenwildash@ncver.edu.au