The Victorian Government has released new data which it says shows that the Vocational Education Plan is addressing key skills shortages.

State Minister for Higher Education and Skills, Peter Hall, said the Vocational Education Update shows that the number of State Government subsidised enrolments in vocational training increased by 22 per cent between m2011 and 2012, to 670,000.

“The increased subsidies in areas of skills need came into effect in July 2012, and in just six months the proportion of total enrolments in Bands A and B has increased from 49 per cent to 65 per cent of total enrolments.”

We have seen a 33 per cent growth in Certificate III in Children’s Services enrolments and a nine per cent increase in Certificate III in Carpentry enrolments, which have both been identified as specialised or ‘in shortage’ occupations.”

“The trends show training activity is moving towards courses of labour market need – which is exactly what the Coalition Government’s reforms were intended to do.”

Mr Hall encouraged anyone interested in getting the facts on training in Victoria to access the update on Vocational Education and Training 2012 via the department’s website at: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/news/archive/Pages/vetmarket.aspx

The full training market performance report for 2012 will be released in March this year.