Why this is the worst VET reform I have seen in 25 years.

Firstly, these are the individuals responsible.

Mr Craig Robertson Chief Executive Officer, Victorian Skills Authority (Chair)

Ms Sarah Brunton National Technical Officer, Electrical Trades Union

Ms Helen Cooney Principal Policy Officer, Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association

Ms Megan Lilly Executive Director, Australian Industry Group

Mr Geoff Gwilym Chief Executive Officer, Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce

Dr Margot McNeill (PFHEA) Chief Product and Quality Officer TAFE NSW, Education expert

Mr Mathew Pearson Director – National Skills Reform, NSW Department of Education, State and Territory nominated representative.

Releasing the reform documentation late on a Friday afternoon should be a dead giveaway.

5pm Friday special. Late in a calendar year with holiday celebrations underway.

The fact that this particular Friday was Australian Training Awards night, when the entire sector is celebrating the year's successes & distracted from any reform items is another dead giveaway.

Although perhaps this was perfectly timed to allow TDA & TAFEs in general to celebrate what has just been achieved - the undermining of the Australian VET competency-based training system. Something TDA has been lobbying for, for years.

It is not often I get to use asinine.

Which is quite the statement in itself, considering what happens in our VET sector.

Complexity & Fragmentation

The reform acknowledges the presence of over 1,200 qualifications, over 15,000 units of competency, and hundreds of skill sets. Despite this, it does not effectively reduce the existing complexity or address the redundancy of qualifications.

In fact, it opens up a whole new approach of duplication & complexity with multiple unit of competency formats for qualifications design.

The qualification-first approach risks creating additional layers of bureaucracy, requiring extensive adjustments by RTOs to deliver newly designed programs.

Add TAFE's mooted self-accreditation approvals & we have our national VET system & consistency across jurisdictions utterly undermined.

Shift from Competency-Based Training

I would put this first, but I am so red-hot I had to leave it to second.

Moving away from competency-based training to an "Application of Skills and Knowledge (ASK)" model is poorly defined, potentially leading to inconsistencies across industries and confusion among training providers.

The reform diminishes the competency-based approach that directly links VET outcomes to job-specific skills, potentially reducing employability for graduates in certain trades and industries.

The lack of competency-based assessment returns a 30 year old issue as graduates who have not completed competency-based assessments arrive in workplaces. TAFEs might rejoice in this new model, but industries & employers certainly will not, when they realise what these reforms mean.

'Kids got the paper, can't do the work'

High Administrative & Compliance Burden

The reform introduces new qualification descriptors, development principles, and templates, that will significantly increase the administrative workload for RTOs, leading to higher operational costs and reduced focus on teaching quality, all while funding rates continue to reduce in real terms.

The reform suggests reduced prescription but in reality will introduce new oversight groups, descriptors, and principles, which complicate the regulatory environment for RTOs instead of simplifying it.

Unclear Impact on Industry & Learners

Industry feedback has expressed concerns over the lack of clarity in how broader qualification outcomes will align with specific job roles and industry requirements. As the report itself states, JSCs reported back 65% of training products require No Change.

As one JSC was publicly commenting during development, their stakeholder consultations were focused on collecting feedback on why the proposed reforms were a "dumb idea."

Lack of Clarity on Outcomes

By focusing on the "application" of knowledge and skills without clear metrics for assessment, the reform risks producing graduates who lack measurable competencies needed for specific roles. The 'ASK' unit of competency model doesn't have Elements or Performance Criteria - the "Essential Outcomes" that have underpinned VET effectiveness for more than a generation.

The reform's vision for flexibility and adaptability will undermine the structured pathways currently provided by existing frameworks, leaving students uncertain about career outcomes and employers unsure what graduates are actually skilled for.

Implementation Challenges

The report’s phased approach (starting in 2025) will lead to extended periods of uncertainty for providers and learners.

Reduced Participation

The reform does not consider the financial burden on either RTOs or learners, nor does it simplify pathways for participation, which could result in reduced enrolments in VET courses.

The emphasis on broader skills and reduced prescription may alienate learners from disadvantaged backgrounds who require clear, practical training outcomes.

Mate, we just want the skills to get a job.

Impact on RTO Viability

Small and regional RTOs typically operate on tight margins in the funding reduction environment and are likely to find the reform’s changes prohibitively expensive to implement, potentially forcing closures and reducing training access in remote areas.

The focus on overarching frameworks detracts from the practical, hands-on training that has historically been the strength of VET in Australia.

The "new philosophy of learning."

How to gaslight an entire industry sector in 5 words.

Insufficient Consideration of Workforce & IR Systems

The report does not adequately address how the reforms will interact with IR systems, particularly for qualifications tied to pay rates or licensing requirements. Although it is notable that trades will be barely touched. Can't muck with the important stuff!

The diminished focus on granular competency risks leaving industries without the precise skills needed for workforce planning in organisations still engaged in our formal VET system. The reform will further disenfranchise employers and industry, leading to further reduction in employer engagement with formal VET.

Reputational Harm

The shift toward broader, less occupation-specific qualifications risks undermining VET’s core purpose: preparing individuals for specific jobs and industries.

The reform will alienate key stakeholders, including industry groups, RTOs, and students, further damaging the sector's reputation and reducing trust in the VET system.

This is what the new Units of Competency will look like:

https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/phillbevan_new-unit-of-competency-formats-activity-7270705076724260864-xmpX?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Welcome to the further destruction of Australian VET.