Employment and Skills Minister Michaelia Cash announces the government’s VET stakeholder committee, “to help drive its significant agenda of reform”

The 14 members are drawn from employer, apprentice and job-finder organisations. Private and non-government trainers have three representatives, Chris Butler from the Enterprise Registered Training Organisation Association, Troy Williams from the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia and Don Perlgut from Community Colleges Australia. Craig Roberston (TAFE Directors Australia) represents the state systems.

ITECA thinks the committee, including its membership, is a thoroughly good thing, “The views of independent providers across the VET sector will be of real value to the Australian Government as it sets about implementing positive reforms,” Mr Williams says. However, the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations is not as sure, suggesting the absence of students is, “a huge oversight”. “You would think VET students would be the most important stakeholders of all.”