The union representing over 17,000 principals, teachers and staff across Queensland and Northern Territory non-government schools has called for urgent improvement to the wages and working conditions of staff employed in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.
It comes as the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training released its report yesterday (25 March 2024) following an inquiry into the perceptions and status of VET.
Independent Education Union – Queensland and Northern Territory (IEU-QNT) Branch Secretary Terry Burke says the report’s recommendations do not address the VET sector’s abysmal pay and working conditions.
He told EducationDaily the report’s recommendations were disappointing and missed the mark.
“The current strategy outlined in the report is focused on ambitious campaigns and enhancing the sector’s allure, while utterly neglecting to improve quality, which is short-sighted,” Mr Burke says.
“Once again, the recommendations are to revert to the well-worn, yet ineffective, tactic of outsourcing.”
Secure work will help retain quality VET trainers
Mr Burke told EducationDaily the Committee had missed the opportunity to provide secure work and employment for professionals in the sector by not looking at professional registration of practitioners, and by ignoring the wide spectrum of employee voices.
“Nor do they focus on assuring quality within the sector either, despite the inquiry’s purpose delving into how we can elevate perceptions and status of VET,” he says.
“Instead, the strategy seems to be to fund a media campaign to promote VET pathways to students in schools, through the careers’ advice body, the National Careers Institute.
Recognition and remuneration
“If the federal government is serious about enhancing the perception of the VET sector as an attractive potential career pathway for students, they must ensure the teachers, trainers and assessors employed in VET colleges, including both private Registered Training Organisations (RTO) and public colleges such as TAFE, are remunerated and recognised appropriately,” Mr Burke says, adding that the lack of professional pay rates and poor working conditions are directly leading to staff leaving the sector in droves.
“Money needs to be invested in improving the wages and conditions of staff,” he says.
“Otherwise, VET students will continue to be disappointed by the quality of education and training offered by providers – with profit their only commitment to the sector.
“A high-quality or sustainable VET sector that meets the contemporary needs of students and broader society will not exist until pay and conditions for those working in VET colleges are overhauled.”
