A peak provider lobby proposes ways to meet a post COVID-19 shortage of skilled workers

Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia appears to have no great expectations for the budget, and looks to the next parliament for skills-reform.

ITECA advocates

* integrating HE, voced and training, “to operate as one, yet retain their separate and distinct strengths and identities.” The feds should develop a five-year strategy to do this

* a National Cabinet strategy, “eliminating duplicative, redundant and burdensome regulation” in state/territory national jurisdictions

* expand “Commonwealth-subsidised” student places at private providers

* federal skills funding only for “jurisdictions” where students can choose a public or private provider

* National Skills Commission identify which qualifications need subsiding, “reflecting the cost of achieving excellence”

* a single student loan programme that supports lifelong learning

* an International Education Commission