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Education – key to our
future successes
The workplaces of today and the world
of the future obviously need people with
the right mix of skills for the times, the
right attitudes and the right passion for
their work. My job as Minister for Educa-
tion and Training is to ensure we have
the right mix of policies in place to foster
the sorts of conditions that build those
qualities in Australians.
While there are plenty of potential pot-
holes and pitfalls in the road ahead for
our education system, they are far out-
weighed by the opportunities in front of
us.
Estimates show around three in four
of the fastest-growing occupations need
STEM skills – that is, skills in science,
technology, engineering or mathemat-
ics. The Turnbull Government’s National
Innovation and Science Agenda and our
reforms to schools are directly designed
to grab that opportunity.
More and more Australians want spe-
cific, hands-on skills that will give them
a foothold into a new industry or a boost
up in their career. Our new VET Student
Loans program clears away Labor’s
failed and scandal-plagued VET FEE-
HELP scheme and better ties taxpayer
loans and support to courses that will de-
liver students the skills they need for new
or better jobs.
As the world globalises, so too does
the hunt for the best and brightest minds
with international businesses, research
houses and innovation incubators look-
ing to poach Australia’s talent. We’re
making sure our students can learn from
the best in the world but that we provide
the right opportunities to keep that talent
in Australia and to help them feed their
ambitions.
Those are just some of the looming
threats and opportunities on the horizon
for Australia’s education system. What’s
clear however is that we need to ensure
our education system is integrated and
connected all the way from the high chair
to higher education.
Australia cannot hope to train plumb-
ers and mechanics or graduate doctors
and scientists if these connected foun-
dations are not in place.
From early learning in child care set-
tings, through schools, vocational educa-
tion and training and on to higher educa-
tion and research, an individual builds on
their skills and learning.
Laying strong foundations
The global education research consen-
sus is that access to early learning op-
portunities is key to giving students the
best start in life and that early learning
has flow-on effects throughout the rest
of their education. It’s why our child care
reforms supports working parents and
early childhood education - those ear-
ly years have a profound impact on the
cognitive, social, emotional and physical
development of children.