The Federal Government has decided to consult the training sector about the future of Vocational Education and Training (VET), and Victoria gets first go.

Rather than bumble blindly into reforms, Assistant Minister for Education and Training Senator Simon Birmingham says he will conduct face-to-face consultations with industry representatives.

“Our government is embarking upon an ambitious program of VET reform to lift the quality of both training providers and their courses, so as to further enhance the contribution VET makes to the employment prospects of students and the competitiveness of Australia's economy,” Senator Birmingham said.

The Government has put up the following schedule of meetings nationwide, along with information on how to get involved.

While some training institutions will be shocked at actually being consulted, Birmingham maintains that “our commitment to VET is unparalleled”.

"Over the last sixteen months our government has sought to better empower the skills regulator to target dodgy training providers while aiming to ease the red tape burden on good providers,” he said.

“In coming months, informed by feedback from these consultations, new and streamlined structures for designing and developing the content of training courses will be developed. These new structures will put industry and businesses at the heart of the process, ensuring training courses best provide the skills required for the jobs of the future.

“As the new minister, I look forward to engaging with VET providers and industry to give the millions of Australians reliant on the VET sector the best opportunities possible.”

Consultations with Registered Training Organisations, industry, students and key stakeholders will be held in every capital city during January and February.