South Australian students will get extra support to finish vocational education and training (VET) courses, under a new $37 million commitment from the Australian and South Australian Governments.
Delivered under the $2.3 billion National Skills Agreement, the funding will support actions to improve completions and ensure students succeed in industries critical to the state’s future.
A low completion rate negatively impacts industries through loss of productivity and missed opportunities for skilled workers, while also limiting individual benefits like higher wages and a greater chance of further study.
The additional support comes as completion rates for VET courses reach a four-year high for South Australian students, at just over 50 per cent.
Data from the National Centre for Vocational Education and Research (NCVER) shows that the completion rate for courses that commenced in 2020 and delivered in South Australia increased from 48.6 per cent to 50.9 per cent, the highest rate since 2016.
The $37 million funding builds on this rise by targeting barriers and supporting pathways to long-term employment.
Actions include:
- Expanding the availability of student support services including mental health and financial assistance – this will go from supporting 1000 students per year to more than 3000 per year
- Introducing peer support for apprentices to mentor and support them to complete
- Focusing support on priority industries like construction, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy by working with industry to introduce new programs to increase completions
- Using local strategies to tackle challenges in regional areas, including by working alongside First Nations organisations
- Creating a VET Student Advisory Network for learners to share their experiences and influence changes to improve completions
- Implementing TAFE SA’s Completions Strategy to improve student retention and success rates
- Evaluating programs that help students complete their training to then expand what works.
Under the plan, TAFE SA will expand their Apprentice Liaison Officer (ALO) model to strengthen apprentice retention and completion.
Up to 8 ALOs will provide specialist targeted case management, working directly with apprentices and employers to review training progress, customise training plans, and address barriers to completion.
Second-year electrotechnology apprentice Justin Koenig said it can be a struggle to understand the course work as well as cope with personal issues, and has used the support of a TAFE SA apprentice liaison officer.
“As an apprentice sparky, there’s a lot of maths content, electrical content. I’ve heard the stories of how people struggle, drop out and lose their apprenticeship for personal reasons.
“ALOs can get you over the edge, help pull strings and tide you over just to get through. It’s been so helpful to me and I’d love to see more people have the opportunity.”
