The biggest single generation in our society has started to leave the workforce and we’ll all be affected.

Boomers will buy and sell all sorts of assets, such as cars and houses, as they adjust their possessions to suit their lifestyles. But there will be other, less obvious, but nonetheless far-reaching effects.

For instance, the Training and Skills Commission has predicted that growth in the state’s economy, combined with the replacement demand, will result in 163,000 job openings over the next five years.

A total of 94,000 jobs will be just replacing those baby boomers who retire, while the other 69,000 will be new jobs.

As a State Government priority, we must ensure that many thousands of workers or potential employees receive the training they need to take up these jobs or to further enhance their existing skills.

It’s clear that we need to find a way to provide this training with such a huge demand only a year or two down the track.

Last year we announced a detailed plan to provide this training called “Skills for All”, which aims to raise the skill levels of our workforce and get more people into training and jobs.

There are many benefits for students under Skills for All, such as more variety in training options, but the most significant change will be the reduction in course fees on a whole range of programs.

Pre-Vocational, Certificate I and II level courses will be fee-free from July this year. Qualifications at Certificate III level and above will continue to receive a significant subsidy.

We’re also introducing a student loan structure with the assistance of the Federal Government, a structure almost identical to the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) and the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) currently used in our universities. This will apply to diploma and advanced diploma courses.

It means students will not have to pay fees up front, but can instead pay them off over time when they’re on a higher wage.

Students will also be able to select the training provider of their choice from TAFE SA and other approved private training providers.

Legislation was introduced into Parliament last week that will result in TAFE SA becoming a public corporation, meaning it will become more independent of government.

A Subsidised Training List has already been released that includes more than 1400 selected qualifications from national training packages and accredited courses that will be funded from July this year.

The list includes about 600 additional courses not previously funded, including courses from certificate level through to, and including, advanced diplomas.

The application process for training providers to apply to become a Skills for All provider is also now open. This is an additional quality measure requiring existing registered training organisations to meet rigorous assessment criteria before they can access training funds under Skills for All.

We’re on an important countdown, so there’s no better time than right now to contact TAFE SA to find out what training suits you and what free or subsidised courses are available from July this year.

Call  1300 307 281

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