This week’s NCVER data, Students enrolled in nationally recognised training continue to grow, shows that participation in training is growing. This is a good news story for vocational education and training (VET). However, the story must be balanced so that the contribution of different parts of VET is correctly understood.
The data shows that there is growth in stand-alone subjects. As per the NCVER media release, “the most popular are compliance and workplace-mandatory subjects, primarily in health-related areas, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid, and workforce preparation for the construction industry.” This is not surprising or new. These subjects are mandatory requirements to work in industries such as health, care and construction.
As NCVER Managing Director John King said, ‘The VET sector plays an important role in developing new skills and knowledge for individuals to enter employment, and also in the ongoing skills maintenance of the existing workforce.’
As we know there are close to 4000 training providers in VET. Many of those smaller training providers focus just on delivering stand-alone subjects. Others are specialists in just one industry area. This allows them to scale and achieve efficiencies. Industry compliance requirements ensure these providers have a market. This is an important role small quality providers play in these areas. That’s why the non-TAFE sector often quotes it has more students – indeed it does when single subject delivery is what is counted as contributing to total student numbers.
However, for TDA members our focus has always been on more than just training. TAFEs focus is on education. That means, that single subject delivery is not what TAFE providers concentrate on. TAFEs tackle the more complex task of educating students in whole qualifications.
The NCVER data shows that the Community Services training package was still the most popular qualification, with Early Childhood Education and Care and Individual Support also high in enrolments. These three subjects, along with qualifications in plumbing and electrotechnology are core to the business model of TDA members.
Student numbers should never be used as an indicator of market share in VET. The story should be balanced and the data used correctly.
The federal and South Australian governments have announced that the $28 million National Security TAFE Centre of Excellence will be established at TAFE SA’s Regency campus.
The centre will develop training programs focused on improving Australia’s national security and information security readiness across electrotechnology, electronics and engineering.
It will also play a key role in preparing technicians for AUKUS and in preventing security threats and cybercrime.
The centre is the 14th TAFE Centre of Excellence announced so far across Australia, and the second to be established in South Australia, following the Early Childhood Education and Care TAFE Centre of Excellence at TAFE SA’s Adelaide City West campus.
The South Australian Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Blair Boyer the centre would play a vital role.
“As South Australia and Australia’s defence industry ramps up for naval shipbuilding, nuclear-powered submarines, guided weapons and explosive ordnance, so too does the need to protect our supply chains from ever-increasing foreign interference,” he said.
The number of apprentices and trainees ‘in-training’ fell by 7.9% in the year to March, according to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).
NCVER says the decline was largely due to a continued reduction in commencements and an increase in trade completions.
Apprenticeship commencements in trade occupations fell 1.8% over the year, with notable falls in Construction (down 4.2%) and Automotive and Engineering Trades (down 3%), while Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades rose 2.6%. Trade commencements increased in South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory, but fell elsewhere.
NCVER Managing Director John King said, the results show that labour market demand is not yet translating into more people starting an apprenticeship.
‘We know employment growth and skills shortages in the trades remain strong, yet commencements are not increasing in line with that demand in all jurisdictions.”
However, there was a healthy 11.6% jump in trade completions in the March quarter. Completions among Construction Trade Workers grew 19.9%, with strong growth among Bricklayers and Carpenters and Joiners, while Automotive and Engineering Trade Worker completions increased by 16.7%.
Non-trades commencements were down 14.1% and completions down 11.1% over the year – an outcome NCVER says reflects changes in government incentives for non-trade training.
See Apprentices and trainees 2025: March quarter
ASQA and TEQSA have identified a plan for tertiary sector harmonisation that could be commenced almost immediately and undertaken in three years.
The program is contained in the TEQSA and ASQA’s Dual Sector Regulatory Strategy, released last week.
The strategy says dual sector providers face a “significant regulatory burden” by needing to satisfy multiple sets of regulatory requirements administered by ASQA, TEQSA and other regulators.
“Demonstrating compliance against these requirements is complex and requires substantial work effort,” the strategy says.
“Some of the work of demonstrating compliance is also duplicative or inefficient, compounding the work effort issue.”
The regulators identify a program of three key opportunities for harmonisation “that can be commenced with minimal or no lead time and implemented within approximately 3 years”.
The measures comprise better information sharing and collaboration, aligning evidence requirements for similar assessments, and supporting dual sector providers to mature corporate and academic governance.
The complexity of the system is neatly depicted below in a schematic diagram of Australia’s tertiary education regulatory ecosystem (P15 of the Dual Sector Regulatory Strategy).
You asked, and we have listened.
The closing date for the Call for Proposals has been extended to 5pm (AEDT)15 October 2025 in response to the many requests we have received.
Don’t miss this extended opportunity to share your industry and community partnerships, applied research, innovation and great practice at TDA Convention 2026.
TDA welcomes proposals from all partners and stakeholders.
One of the giants of the VET sector is being remembered following the passing of TAFE leader, Virginia Simmons AO.
Virginia became the first female director of a TAFE institution and remains the longest serving female TAFE CEO and director in Victoria.
As CEO of both Kangan Institute and Chisholm Institute, her achievements included pioneering initiatives to improve service provision, such as recognition of prior learning, and a dedication to improving community perceptions of TAFE.
She was awarded the Order of Australia (AO) in 2010 for her significant contribution to education, and the Lynne Kosky Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2024.
Following her retirement, Virginia continued to actively contribute to the TAFE and training sector, leading a number of major training reviews.
Internationally, Virginia played an active role in supporting skills development and industry growth including in China, Africa, the Middle East and the Pacific.
TDA wishes to acknowledge Virginia’s extraordinary contribution and extends its condolences to Virginia’s family, friends and colleagues.
A scheme to help apprentices and trainees in NSW with travel and accommodation costs is part of a $150 million joint Commonwealth-state funding plan under the National Skills Agreement.
A total of $10 million will be used to help apprentices and trainees with travel and accommodation costs for students required to travel more than 110km round trip to attend day or block release training.
Separately, the ACT government announced continued funding for a program that will provide apprentices and trainees with a $250 payment on July 1 and an additional $250 provided to first year apprentices and trainees.
The NSW funding agreement also includes:
• $29 million to promote diversity in the workforce and boost participation from underrepresented groups.
• $19 million to develop a future workforce in critical industries.
• $3 million to establish an innovation fund and support new research to help lift completion rates.
TAFE SA apprentice plumber Callan McKenzie was named Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year at the SA Training Awards on Thursday.
Callan is enrolled in a Certificate III in Plumbing and Gas and engaged by host employer, Connekt Contracting through the GTO, Trainee and Apprenticeship Placement Service Inc (TAPS).
Callan has been heavily involved with TAPS and Connekt Plumbing, working on their Reconciliation Action Plan. He has also been involved in the Cultural Leadership Program with TAPS, designed to bring First Nations apprentices together in a well-supported community.
A distinguished leader in Australia’s VET and higher education sectors, Adrienne Nieuwenhuis, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
From 2013 to 2025, Adrienne served as a member of the South Australian Skills Commission and chair of its Traineeship and Apprenticeship Sub-Committee. She is currently a member of the Australian Skills and Quality Authority’s National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Advisory Council and the Commonwealth Department of Education’s Initial Teacher Education Quality Assurance Oversight Board.
In 2021, Adrienne was appointed as a Commissioner of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, becoming Acting Chief Commissioner in May 2024.
Join us for an engaging TAFETalks session exploring how tertiary harmonisation can be supported through shared data standards. The Australian Government is taking action to break down barriers between TAFE and Higher Education to create a more aligned tertiary education system. In this TAFETalks session, Dr Fan Xiang, Acting Assistant Secretary, National Skills System, Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), will set the scene discussing progress against the recommendations outlined in JSA’s Tertiary Harmonisation Roadmap.
Olivia Roberts from TechnologyOne, TDA’s longest Corporate Affiliate, will talk about the importance of higher education data standards. A critical challenge to harmonisation is that tertiary providers’ data systems are not aligned, limiting collaboration, creating duplication, and making student mobility difficult.
Large scale HE tech companies have been working towards data standards as a key ingredient of harmonisation for some time. MortarCAPS has been set up a not-for-profit model to pursue the development of these data standards.
Charlsey Pearce, CEO of MortarCAPS, will explain how the MortarCAPS Higher Learning Data Standard (MCDS) is helping to break down barriers between universities, TAFEs, and vocational providers, and the benefits of implementing the shared data standards.
You will gain practical steps to explore MCDS and learn that harmonisation is not about forcing institutions to be the same, it’s about allowing them to be different while still connected.
A landmark project, ‘Powering Her Pathway’ which aims to address gender equity in the clean energy sector was launched last week at TAFE Gippsland.
The project is being led by Tradeswomen Australia and delivered in partnership with TAFE Gippsland, ENGIE and RMIT. It will be delivered across key energy transition sites in the region, including Morwell, Loy Yang, Yallourn and Hazelwood.
It was formally launched by the Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles at TAFE Gippsland’s Morwell Trade Skills Centre. It is one of 20 projects funded through the Commonwealth’s Building Women’s Careers program.
TAFE Gippsland CEO Laura Macpherson highlighted the organisation’s commitment to leading clean energy training during a critical time of transition, ensuring Gippsland’s workforce is equipped with the skills and knowledge that will be needed.
A panel of four inspiring women, including Victoria’s newly crowned Apprentice of the Year, Amber Leyshan of AGL, captivated the audience with powerful stories of resilience, innovation and leadership in industries long dominated by men.
This Wednesday, October 1, is Global TVET Day, observed each year on the first Wednesday of October.
The day celebrates the people and programs that bring skills to life. TVET is practical and future-focused, linking classrooms and workshops with real workplaces; building strong partnerships with employers and community; and opening doors to good jobs and meaningful careers.
Thank you to everyone who advances skills and opportunity through TVET.
Charles Darwin University (CDU) TAFE has received the maximum term possible of seven years of re-registration as a National Vocational Education and Training Regulator registered training organisation.
CDU Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive TAFE Michael Hamilton said receiving the maximum term possible was testament to the work that CDU TAFE continues to do and the evidence submitted as part of the re-accreditation process.
“CDU’s TAFE offering has been received exceptionally well over the last few years, and I hope to see it grow and continue to improve over these next seven years,” Mr Hamilton said.
The number of students enrolled in nationally recognised training rose 1.8% to 5.1 million in 2024, according to latest data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).
It’s the highest level of enrolments since the collection began in 2015.
The number of students enrolled in qualifications remains strong, and largely unchanged from the previous year following the first tranche of Fee-Free TAFE.
However, almost two-thirds (69.9%), or 3.6 million students, undertook stand-alone subjects. This represents a 36% increase since 2019. The most popular are compliance and workplace-mandatory subjects, primarily in health-related areas, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid, and workforce preparation for the construction industry.
The Community Services training package remained the most popular qualification, with enrolments increasing by 3.3% from 2023.
Qualification completions have gradually increased to the highest level in nine years. The rise was predominantly in Tourism, Travel and Hospitality (largely driven by growth among international full-fee-paying students), Business Services and Community Services.
See Total VET student and courses 2004.
The TAFE Centre of Excellence Clean Energy Batteries is inviting contributions to help define its 2026 applied research grants.
Led by TAFE Queensland, the centre welcomes ideas and insights on the most pressing challenges and opportunities in the clean energy battery industry, particularly those related to workforce, skills and training.
The centre’s Executive Director, Shawn O’Sullivan said, “This is not a call for formal research proposals, but feedback gathered will help shape the Centre’s future research priorities.”
“Vocational education and training providers, universities, industry, and community organisations are encouraged to participate and share the form with their networks before feedback closes on Friday 10 October 2025,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
The consultation follows the centre’s first round of competitive applied research grants, which closed in July and offered $1 million in funding.
Each year, AVETRA coordinates OctoberVET, a season of presentations, discussions and workshops celebrating Australasian VET research.
The goal of OctoberVET is to disseminate, share and debate Australasian VET research.
AVETRA welcomes your participation. If you want to present your research or participate in 2025, please email AVETRA at avetra@avetra.org.au
Check out the list of this year’s OctoberVET events with registration details here.
OctoberVET 2025
Throughout October 2025
Various events
More information
Vocational Degrees Symposium
15 October 2025
VET Development Centre Melbourne and online
More information
TAFETalks: Tertiary harmonisation and the importance of shared data standards
22 October 2025, 2pm-3pm AEDT
Register here.
TAFETalks: Build the future of education with humans and GenAI
29 October 2025 14:00 Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Register here
Velg Training National VET Conference
30-31 October 2025
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
More information
Association of Colleges Annual Conference
18-19 November 2025
Birmingham, England
More information, contact TDA: memberservices@tda.edu.au
11th Annual Conference on VET Teaching and VET Teacher Education
Australian Council of Deans of Education Vocational Education Group
‘VET teaching in the tertiary education sector: New horizons and possibilities’
11-12 December 2025
Canberra
More information
Abstract due date for presentations and workshops extended to 30th September.
TDA Convention 2026
5-7 May 2026
Brisbane
Call for proposals now open!
More information
VET National Teaching & Learning Conference
13-14 August 2026
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Save the date
48th WorldSkills International Competition Shanghai
22-27 September 2026
More information
2026 WFCP World Congress
23-28 November 2026
Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya
Save the date