Australian qualifications for VET teachers are “much lower” than international equivalents and they to be higher, Flinders U’s Anne Dening argues. One problem in creating an up-skilling culture comes from the way quality assurance is assessed at the level of training organisations, which does not include individual standards for teachers, TAFE veteran Dr Denning argues. Under existing arrangements voced teachers upgrade their Certificate IV in VET teaching when the training package that covers them is renewed.

Dr Dening adds to the argument, made by Federation U’s Erica Smith that VET teachers need to be degree qualified (CMM June 21). If Labor forms the next federal government and sets up its all of post-school education review this will be on the agenda.