VET Funding Review: final report [Mackenzie review]

The review was established on 19 February 2015 to inquire into and report on how to improve the quality, stability and sustainability of the Victorian training market, by recommending alternative vocational education and training (VET) funding models and settings that: (a) match training delivery to the growing job opportunities in Victorian industries; (b) ensure all government subsidised training is high quality; (c) allow rural and regional communities to access training that meets their local needs; (d) meet community service obligations to support vulnerable and higher needs...  [+] Show more

The review was established on 19 February 2015 to inquire into and report on how to improve the quality, stability and sustainability of the Victorian training market, by recommending alternative vocational education and training (VET) funding models and settings that: (a) match training delivery to the growing job opportunities in Victorian industries; (b) ensure all government subsidised training is high quality; (c) allow rural and regional communities to access training that meets their local needs; (d) meet community service obligations to support vulnerable and higher needs learners to complete training and transition to employment; (e) build a strong and responsive public Technical and Further Education (TAFE) sector; (f) manage training expenditure within the existing vocational training budget while preserving a framework of student driven choices; (g) recognise the public and private benefits of training and ensure fees and student costs are not a barrier to participation; and (h) ensure eligibility to access subsidised training is fair and well-targeted.

The review was also asked to comment as necessary on: (i) how other government policy levers may be used to support the quality, stability and sustainability of the Victorian training market - this could include the regulation of training providers; requirements for government contracted training provision; information and decision support tools for students; and implications for national training policy; and (j) the implications of recommended reforms for other directly-related areas of education in Victoria (including secondary schooling and the roll out of new Tech Schools, and the higher education sector).

This final report provides the review's recommendations to improve the quality, stability and sustainability of the Victorian training market, in accordance with the terms of reference. The report has six interconnected chapters, the content of which reflects the complexity of the system: (1) government's role in VET; (2) a sustainable funding system, which outlines how the funding system should be reformed; (3) supporting jobs and industry, which discusses the important role VET plays in meeting industry needs; (4) institutes of technical and further education, which discusses the important role of the public provider; (5) quality assured VET, which makes a series of recommendations to improve quality in the system and better protect and support students; and (6) continuous improvement, which provides additional recommendations to drive improvements in the sector.

Edited excerpts from publication and publisher's website.