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Summary —
It is Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) that do heaving lifting in providing South Australia with the skilled workforce that local businesses need. This is a critical fact as the state government sets about the task of negotiating a new five years skills funding agreement with the Australian Government.
Key Issues —
There are around 185 independent RTOs across South Australia that support 93.4% of the 268,580 students in skills training across the state. Independent RTOs deliver the lions share of higher level and complex qualifications, supporting 66.6% of apprentices and trainees and 62.9% of diploma and higher qualifications, plus 71.6% of Certificate IV qualifications.
According to government data referenced in the 2023 South Australia Skills Training Snapshot, across rural, remote and regional South Australia, it is independent RTOs that support 92.2% of students. Furthermore, independent RTOs support 80.7% of indigenous students and 85.2% of students with a disability across the state. A detailed assessment of statewide student enrolments by qualification can be found in the table below.
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Student Enrolments —
South Australia Skills Training Data
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■ Diploma (and above) student enrolments |
Public: 36.9% |
Ind. RTO: 62.9% |
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■ Certificate IV student enrolments |
Public: 27.5%
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Ind. RTO: 71.6%
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■ Certificate III student enrolments |
Public: 27.5%
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Ind. RTO: 71.7%
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■ Certificate I & II student enrolments
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Public: 52.2%
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Ind. RTO: 46.9% |
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■ Apprentices and trainees
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Public: 33.2%
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Ind. RTO: 66.6%
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Of note is the strong level of student satisfaction achieved by private training providers across South Australia as noted in the government data.
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Student Student Satisfaction —
South Australia Skills Training Data
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■ Achieved main reason for doing training
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TAFE: 85.9% |
Private RTO: 88.7% |
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■ Satisfied with support services
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TAFE: 75.3% |
Private RTO: 78.1%
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■ Satisfied with learning resources
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TAFE: 83.5% |
Private RTO: 83.9% |
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■ Satisfied with assessment |
TAFE: 90.7% |
Private RTO: 89.6% |
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■ Improved employment status after training
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TAFE: 66.9% |
Private RTO: 65.8% |
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■ Employed after training
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TAFE: 79.3%
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Private RTO: 77.6%
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The significant contribution of independent RTOs to the skilling, upskilling and reskilling of the South Australian workforce should be a determinant factor as the state government negotiates a news skills funding agreement, particularly given that private RTOs achieve higher levels of student satisfaction than their public sector counterparts.
The government data referenced above can be found in the 2023 South Australia Skills Training Snapshot, a copy of which can be downloaded below.
The analysis comes at a critical time as the South Australian Government negotiates a new five years skills funding agreement with the Australian Government. The Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA) is arguing that the state government should put students at the heart of the funding agreement, allowing them to study with the provider of their choice.
“We want government’s to back a student’s decision to study with the skills training provider of their choice, the one that the student believes is best able to help them achieve their life and career goals. This may be a quality independent RTO in South Australia or a public TAFE college,” said Troy Williams, ITECA Chief Executive.
Government data referenced in the the 2023 South Australia Skills Training Snapshot shows that despite supporting 93.4% of all students in skills training across the state, only 24.4% of the total government skills training funding is allocate to students with independent providers.
Getting Involved —
ITECA's reputation for member-driven policy leadership is a product of members contributing to the work of the ITECA South Australian State Committee. ITECA Membership – It's a great time to get involved.
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Further Information —
If you're an ITECA member and would like more information on the qualifications reform agenda, the ITECA team would value the opportunity to talk to you. Simply send an email to [email protected] or telephone 1300 421 017. Stay up to date via Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Disclaimer & Copyright —
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