The recently released Skilling Australia Foundation report ‘Perceptions Are Not Reality’ provides strong arguments for the benefits of the vocational education and training system in Australia. The report addresses some of the inaccurate perceptions of the vocational sector and highlights the opportunities VET pathways bring to education and employment.
The report suggests the VET sector is cost-effective and produces highly skilled graduates who can earn high wages in high demand jobs. Evidence shows the sector has an essential role in addressing skills shortages and providing skill sets required for the future.
Today’s multi-career era has placed importance upon up-skilling and re-training to create an agile and relevant workforce. In this technologically transformative society, today’s workers have to be life-long learners, with hands on skills not just academic qualifications, and a focus on productivity not just theory.
The changing nature of entire industries means there is an increasing need for specific skills and training – a distinct feature of the emerging Australian economy. It is predicted that today’s school leaver will have 17 jobs across five careers in their lifetime. The bulk of Australia’s workers will be changing careers or shifting from employment to self-employment and back again several times over the course of their working lives.
The agriculture sector recognises the need for new technology and realises the opportunities for advancement which these innovations offer. In the next few years, the industry will be affected by disruptive technologies that may increase efficiency, productivity and profitability. To remain relevant and continuously adapt to the advancements of these technologies, governments, industry, and the VET sector should work together to ensure they can provide cutting-edge support and training to workers that embraces the concept of continuous learning.