News

Latest data released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) show that South Australian VET student numbers are up by 3.8%, the largest – and only – increase in Australia in this period.

There were 57,645 students or 2,125 more than the first half of 2024, 10.6 percentage points above a national decline of 6.8%. In addition, the numbers are up by 15.4% from 2022 and 19.1% from 2019.

VET program enrolments went up by 2.8%, which was also the largest and only increase in the nation.

There were 59,585 enrolments, an increase of 2.8% or 1,615 more than the same period in 2024, 13.4 percentage points above the national decline of 10.6%.

Of the 59,585 enrolments, 39,815 were in courses aligned to South Australian government priority areas, an increase of 4.7% when compared to the same period in 2024. The proportion of courses in priority areas was 66.8% 1.2 percentage points higher than 2024.

South Australia also recorded the highest increase in the nation for subject enrolments, up by 6.1% to 340,310, 19,620 more than the same period in 2024. This was 12.1 percentage points above the national decline of 6%.

Other notable increases for South Australia were:

• Apprentices or trainees up by 4.1%, from 16,360 in 2024 to 17,035 – the second highest percentage increase in the nation.
• Students attending TAFE, up 5.7% to 29,285 or 1,580 more, 12.8 percentage points above the national decline of 7.1% and the highest percentage increase in the nation.
• Students attending non-TAFE, up 2.8% to 29,225, an increase of 2.8% or 785 more and 9.5 percentage points above the national decline of 6.7% and the highest percentage increase in the nation.
• Students identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander up by 11.9%, from 2,570 in 2024 to 2,875 – the highest percentage increase in the nation.
• School students up by 10.5%, from 7,655 in 2024 to 8,455 – the highest percentage increase in the nation.
• Hours of training delivered to students up by 10.6% to 9,831,870.