A more comprehensive picture of national training is emerging with the first release of new data that indicates almost a quarter (23.3%) of working-aged people (15 to 64 years) undertook some form of vocational education and training (VET) in 2014.
The data, published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), was reported by 4601 Australian providers following the introduction of mandatory reporting of training activity. Previously, training providers were only required to report data on government-funded training activity to NCVER.
“This first release of data on total VET activity is the start of a transformation that will improve our understanding of Australia’s training system”, said Dr Craig Fowler, Managing Director, NCVER.
“Today marks a turning point. Prior releases of data by NCVER reported only government-funded training activity which showed, in the last annual release, that 1.8 million students were in training. With this wider collection of training under ‘total VET activity’, we now know there are significantly more people in training – 3.9 million students”.
The data also show students undertake VET in many institutions:
- 2.3 million were enrolled at private training provider
- 1.1 million studied at TAFE institutes
- 190 300 students were enrolled at schools
- 185 100 studied at community education provider
- 82 800 were enrolled at enterprise providers
- 78 000 studied at universities
- 30 900 were enrolled in overseas locations.
“While 2014 is a first and transition year in which a number of training providers were granted exemptions from reporting and others did not report data, the extended breadth is already revealing information that we didn’t previously know”, said Dr Fowler.
“This first release of ‘total VET activity’ data is the crucial start in getting a better picture of training activity. Consumers, employers, training providers, regulators and governments will benefit from the rich information it provides”, said Dr Fowler.
Copies of Australian vocational education and training statistics: Total VET students and courses 2014, are available from www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2828.html
This work has been produced by NCVER on behalf of the Australian Government and state and territory governments, with funding provided through the Department of Education and Training.
More information about TVA is available from www.ncver.edu.au/totalvetactivity.html including the short video ‘What is TVA?’ and infographics.
Media enquiries: Anna Payton, Media and Communications Officer, P+61 8 8230 8638 or 0413 606 134 or Rebecca Farrell, Media and Communications Officer, P+61 8230 8418 or 0407 608 409