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Australia's first National Strategy for International Education 2025 sets out a 10-year plan for developing Australia's role as a global leader in education, training and research. The strategy and its goals and actions have been developed looking through three lenses: the benefits and opportunities for students, for Australia, and for the world. This balance is essential to ensure that Australia continues to meet the needs of students, business and industry while the nation grows. The strategy is built on three pillars: (1) strengthening the fundamentals; (2) making transformative partnerships; and (3) competing globally. The pillars, and their accompanying goals and actions, are designed to deliver benefits and opportunities for students, for Australia and for the world. The aim is that students will benefit from high-quality education, supported by effective industry links and student services. Australia will benefit from increased market share, connection with new and emerging markets, and stronger international relationships. The world will benefit from industry-ready graduates and increased capacity in education and research.

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The purpose of this statement is to provide an overview of the Australian government’s science and technology strategy. It sets out the major issues essential to developing the nation’s scientific and technological capacity and enhancing its contribution to meeting national needs. The strategy is presented under four broad headings: (1) the central role of science and technology in achieving national objectives; (2) management strategy (including an increase in overall funding of research and development); (3) human resources strategy (including research training); and (4) science and technology and the wider community. The government intends to increase the resources available for allocation to higher education institutions and researchers on the advice of the Australian Research Council (ARC) in consultation with the Higher Education Council (HEC). Additional funding will be provided to support research training and to open research scholarships, linking directly with industry. The health and medical research workforce will be strengthened through the provision of funding to assist young scientists transition into full independence.

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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

All jurisdictions in Australia have signed a Heads of Agreement for Skills Reform. The Agreement sets out immediate reforms to improve the vocational education and training (VET) sector and an approach and priorities for developing a new National Skills Agreement to replace the National Agreement on Skills and Workforce Development [available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 104.531]. The priorities in the Agreement are aimed at ensuring the VET system is delivering for students and employers and equipping Australians with the skills they need for emerging jobs.

The Commonwealth is also partnering with the states and territories to deliver the JobTrainer Fund, which will provide more access to free, or low cost, training places in areas of identified skills need.

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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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