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The Ministerial Statement, 'Our universities backing Australia's future', was released with the Federal Budget on 13 May, 2003. This independent study has been commissioned to analyse the Commonwealth's decisions with emphasis on issues in areas of particular concern to State and Territory Governments. The report is provided in two volumes. Volume one analyses the current situation in Australian Higher Education. Volume two then analyses the decisions announced in 'Backing Australia's future'.

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This publication considers the way growth funds are allocated to the post-compulsory education and training system and looks at other options. It largely confirms the student projections to the year 2001 that appeared in the Finn report and the consequent resource requirements to meet that student demand. The Advice proposes policy initiatives that require considerable further analysis and assessment. It suggests that alternative mechanisms should be considered for allocating growth funds which would further facilitate and encourage maximum use of existing infrastructure through collaborative ventures, within and between sectors or between institutions and industry. The Advice identifies a number of options for financing growth through contributions by government, employers and individuals. Show less

In October 1992 the Prime Minister invited the Committee to undertake an independent inquiry into a national competition policy, following the agreement by Australian Governments on the need for such a policy. This report of the inquiry reflects written submissions from nearly 150 organisations and individuals from around Australia as well as consultations with senior representatives of all Australian Governments and many industry, professional, trade union, consumer and other organisations. The inquiry found strong and widespread community support for implementing an effective national competition policy. There is a significant awareness of the opportunities such a policy offers Australia to improve international competitiveness and hence living standards. Contents: Towards a national competition policy; Part one, 'Competitive conduct rules': Overview of competitive conduct rules; Anti-competitive agreements; Misuse of market power, mergers and other rules; Scope of application: principles and issues; Scope of application: review by sectors and activity; Enforcement; Part two, 'Additional policy elements': Overview of additional policy elements; Regulatory restrictions on competition; Structural reform of public monopolies; Access to 'essential facilities'; Monopoly pricing; Competitive neutrality; Part three, 'Implementation': Institutional arrangements; Legal, transitional and resource issues. Show less

This white paper describes the Commonwealth Government's plan for achieving economic growth in Australia, and increasing employment opportunities for urban, rural and regional Australia. The policies were intended to reduce the number of unemployed, and aimed to reach an unemployment rate of five per cent by the end of the century and to set new goals for education and training, for economic efficiency, for income support arrangements and for industry. The paper argues that unemployment inhibits growth, so that reducing unemployment is an essential part of getting the economy onto a sustainable growth path. It outlines the measures planned, including increased spending on employment and training, new income support measures, industry, science and trade initiatives and specific regional development initiatives. Planned reforms include reforms to labour market assistance, training and education reforms, a restructured social security system, a strategy to help regional Australia, workplace agreements to produce a more flexible and responsive workforce, and microeconomic reforms to industry policy. Training reforms include entry level training measures and a youth training initiative.

Volume one provides an outline of the policies and programs and volume two provides additional detail on the rationale behind the policies and the way in which the various initiatives will interact in working towards the goal of reducing unemployment. Show less

This report looks at the structural and policy changes at Commonwealth level in adult education since the 1991 report 'Come in Cinderella: the emergence of adult and community education' (indexed at TD/LMR 85.644). It examines significant changes in the patterns and level of participation by adults in education and training, describes the organisation of adult and community education (ACE) provision in the states and territories and identifies technological, demographic and economic trends such as our aging population and the Internet which are likely to influence significantly the nature and extent of adult education provision in Australia. It also examines the professional development of adult education since 1991, and prepares guidelines for Australia's contribution to the UNESCO International Conference on Adult and Community Education. Chaired by Senator Rosemary Crowley, the Committee recommended an unequivocal commitment by government to the concept of lifelong society, and recommended a bringing together of the national ACE policy and the vocational education and training (VET) policy to establish an integrated National Adult Community and Vocational Education and Training (NACVET) Policy. Show less

The inquiry into the education of students with disabilities, undertaken by the Senate Employment, Workplace Relations and Education References Committee in 2002, was established in response to concerns about the effectiveness of Commonwealth programs for students with disabilities and whether the needs of students with disabilities were being met in the schools sector and in post-secondary education. The terms of reference for the inquiry required the Committee to examine current policies and practices to determine their adequacy in meeting the needs of students with disabilities and to make recommendations to change the way the Commonwealth and states and territories discharge their responsibilities to these students. Submissions were received from: state and non-government school educational authorities and universities; parents and parent groups; peak disability groups; teachers and individual schools, teacher unions and university academics; and student and student organisations. The inquiry found that schools do not adequately meet the educational needs of students with disabilities and there are deficiencies in the preparation and continuing training and education of teachers. Show less

The Industry Skills Fund is a key element in the Australian Government’s National Industry Investment and Competitiveness Agenda and will provide up to 200,000 training places and support services over four years. The fund will prioritise [small and medium enterprises] SMEs, including micro businesses and will be delivered through the Single Business Service, making delivery and access simpler and more streamlined. The fund aims to assist Australian industry to access training and support services and develop innovative training solutions so Australia will have the highly skilled workforce it needs to adapt to new business growth opportunities, rapid technological change and market driven structural adjustment. The fund will commence on 1 January 2015.

This discussion paper has been developed to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to submit feedback to the Australian Government on the design and implementation arrangements for the Industry Skills Fund.

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In the 1987-88 Budget, the Australian Commonwealth Government announced that it would delay the start of the next funding triennium for higher education to 1989. This paper explains more fully the reasons for the decision in the context of the Government’s longer-term plans for development of the higher education system. The Government is determined that the education and training system play a central role in responding to major economic challenges facing the nation. The paper suggests that Australia can no longer rely on established practices and institutional arrangements to meet these needs. Australia’s universities and colleges of advanced education (CAEs) are the main source of highly educated people necessary to continued economic growth. Research activities within higher education are also vital. For these reasons, the Government is strongly committed to the further development of the national higher education system. The paper outlines the reasons why the Government believes that continuing with current funding arrangements for higher education would not be in the best long-term interests of either the system itself or of the nation in general. The government will therefore embark on a process of policy development and consultation leading to the establishment of a new set of arrangements for Commonwealth support of higher education from the beginning of 1989. In the meantime, the Government has decided to treat 1988 as a year outside the normal triennial funding process. The paper contains an overview of the higher education system and the Government’s plans. Show less

This paper highlights Australia’s position as part of the international community and the need for change in the education sector, in particular the higher education system, to enable the Australian community to respond to the dynamism of world events and thus prosper as a nation. This policy discussion paper aims to promote further growth in the higher education system in response to Australia’s economic, social and cultural needs. Part one, ‘Assessing the challenge’, contains the following chapters: The nature of the challenge; The size of the task; The implications for education; A fair chance for all. Part two, ‘A unified national system’, contains: Structure and organisation; Resource allocation; Management; Staffing; Research and postgraduate studies. Part three, ‘Funding the system’, contains: Future arrangement; Non-Commonwealth sources. Included as appendices are: Participation in higher education; Labour force status and educational attainment; Australia’s participation from an international perspective; Demographic projections; Recurrent grants and student load in each institution; Commonwealth funding of higher education. Show less

The Apprenticeships Reform Advisory Group was convened in September 2015 to provide advice to the Australian Government on options for reform of the Australian Apprenticeships system. Recommendations target three key reform areas - restructuring of apprenticeship incentives, a new pre-apprenticeship programme, and piloting alternative models of apprenticeship delivery - as well as providing options for broader systemic reform.

Seven recommendations go to the heart of encouraging apprenticeship opportunities using financial levers. The Advisory Group believes the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme remains a vital mechanism for encouraging participation. In addition, the Australian Government should consider linkages between its skills programmes to better target investment in ways that support the creation of new apprenticeship places and enable workforce development. [The Advisory Group's] considerations for a new pre-apprenticeship programme have resulted in four recommendations that cut to the need for national consistency, defined stages of work readiness and improved connections between schools, young people and employers. For the final priority area, [the Advisory Group] provide five recommendations to support the validation of, and engagement with, existing alternative models of apprenticeship delivery.

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