Zoe Daniel (Goldstein, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I'm pleased to speak to the Shared vision, equal pathways report and recommendations resulting from the Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training VET inquiry. The committee took extensive evidence from students, teachers and other stakeholders about the workings of the VET system and the gaps within it. This, I believe, was particularly timely given the intersection between vocational education and training and universities, as outlined is in the just released Universities Accord report.

As our economy continues to evolve, transitioning into renewable energy, artificial intelligence and an increasing reliance on the care and services sectors, an effective VET sector will be critical to creating the educational and skills base that we need. We must dispel the negative perceptions of VET not only by more effectively promoting it within schools and to families but also by strengthening the VET system by addressing the complex barriers faced by students when it comes to entry into, and effective outcomes from, VET. The committee has recognised, for example, that the emphasis on ATAR scores may be counterproductive to students who may wish to take a VET pathway but are diverted to university, when it may not be appropriate for them. The inquiry revealed very clearly the need to highlight for students diverse pathways that not only match their needs but also build the skills base that Australia needs across a range of sectors. It also became clear that effective careers education in schools is central to the success of this approach, especially considering that children aged as young as seven are beginning to develop decisions about what they may do later in life.

I have particular interest in the gendered nature of VET and have had input into several of the recommendations relating to the way that women interact with the system and how to encourage more women and girls into VET pathways. These include encouraging women and gender-diverse people into male-dominated industries, ensuring equitable employment and addressing gender based violence and barriers to women in trades based workplaces, targeting women and gender diverse people with additional apprenticeship places, and implementing promotional and educational campaigns that challenge gender stereotypes. The report also recommends an increased focus within VET on female-dominated industries, including fashion and textiles—currently worth some billions per year to the Australian economy.

Australia has one of the most gender-segregated workforces among OECD countries. Women and men largely work the same jobs they did 35 years ago. Caring and clerical professions remain dominated by women, while construction, trades and labouring professions are dominated by men. The ABS reports that women currently comprise around 16 per cent of trade and technical workers. They currently make up just three per cent of the trade workforce and hold only one in every 100 trade apprenticeships. While the number of women in trades is increasing, they still make up only three per cent of all electricians and one per cent of construction workers. As reported in the weekend papers just gone, an enormous shortage of trades will thwart our capacity to build the housing we need in coming years, among other things. One avenue to increased capacity and productivity is women.

I look forward to working with the government to remove the structural and attitudinal barriers that stand in the way. We have so much to gain as a nation if this happens. According to Deloitte Access Economics, the Australian economy would be boosted by $128 billion if the persistent barriers to women's full and equal participation were removed. That equates to $12,000 extra a year per household.

I thank the committee—particularly the member for Bendigo, for chairing it—for the excellent and thorough recommendations for creating a thriving VET sector.

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