One of the many great privileges and pleasures of being a member of parliament is meeting students and teachers from schools all around the electorate. After interactions with the young students of Hume, from kindergarten to Year 12, I always feel confident about our country’s future. It is my firm belief that our future economic success is at least partially dependent on continuing to build on our natural strengths in resources and agriculture.
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As we head into the last school term of 2014, tens of thousands of students across New South Wales are about to commence the Higher School Certificate. It is a time of hard work and excitement. For many it is more than a little stressful. But for everyone, there is a sense of approaching a new beginning. From here on in – right through to results time and beyond - students are inundated with the question “what will you do next year?"
I am passionate and have always been passionate about education. However, I have always believed that it is possible to receive a great education without going to University. In recent years there have been too many students heading off to university without really clear goals. This has occurred due to the lopsided incentives which have favoured students choosing university education over vocational educations. It has led to some students obtaining degrees which have cost money, but which have not provided them a clear path to a rewarding career and permanent employment. And at the same time we have massive skills shortages in many of the trades.
The federal government’s new policy of extending HELP (the old HECS) loans to TAFE and other non-university tertiary education will go a long way to addressing that imbalance. We recognise that vocational education is important, can lead to challenging work and careers, and is vital to our county’s future. First year plumbers now earn more than first year law graduates – it is likely to stay that way for some time. I am confident that this and other policies encouraging the take up of vocational education will see greater numbers of school leavers taking up trades.
This is good news for all school leavers across the country. But it is particularly good for school leavers in Hume– where there are abundant opportunities for trade based education and employment.