The Rudd government is driving a competition agenda in the VET sector. Victoria and South Australia have announced the introduction of far reaching changes to the funding and organisation of their TAFE systems, citing policy changes at the federal level as the reasons for their reforms.

Competition is offered as a solution to the skills shortage crisis, despite the fact that competition for funding within the VET system has existed during the entire period during which skills shortages have emerged. Skills shortages are arguably the best example of the failure of the competitive market in VET.

The AEU is campaigning against the introduction of more competition for funding in TAFE.

Fact Sheets

1 - In Brief
2 - What does competition mean for TAFE Students?
3 - The Consequences of Competition and Marketisation
4 - A Chronology of TAFE
5 - The Boston Consulting Group Report
6 - A Skills Strategy for South Australia's Future
7 - Skills Reform - Victoria
8 - Income Contingent Loans, No 1 (Lessons from the University Sector)
9 - Income Contingent Loans, No 2 (Student Loans in TAFE and VET)

Papers

Competition, contestability and TAFE (July 2008)

The Victorian Campaign

Stop the TAFE Rip Off

Don't Privatise Our TAFEs