Fee-free training could bridge skill gap

TAFE NSW Regional General Manager Michael Cullen has urged school leavers to take advantage of fee-free training to equip them with the skills they need to secure jobs with local employers who are crying out for qualified employees.

Mr Cullen, who took part in Council’s recent Mayoral Skills Summit said the fee-free training aligns with the need to address the skills gap and lack of practical workplace learning that young people face when they leave school.

The need for this support was highlighted in the NSW Business Chamber 2019 Workforce Skills Survey which reported that 61.8% of businesses with skills shortages are unable to recruit suitable staff and are carrying increasing job vacancies.

The ICT, Early Childhood Education, and Automotive industry are just some of the industries experiencing ongoing skills shortages in Western Sydney.

In addition, Mr Cullen said the 2019 Joyce review of vocational education noted stakeholders were concerned that students who would otherwise thrive in VET careers are being directed towards higher education options where they may not succeed.

“While university may be a viable option for some school leavers, it’s important that vocational education and training is considered a ‘plan A’ for school leavers to pursue careers in areas that they are passionate about,” he said.

For more information on the range of semester one courses available at TAFE NSW in 2020, visit TAFE NSW or phone 131 601.

Image: Fee-courses from TAFE NSW could be part of the solution for a skills gap in Western Sydney.