Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
Education Revolution
The Education Revolution is a package of new initiatives designed to drive future productivity improvements within the Australian economy and is targeted to the key areas of early childhood education, schools, vocational education and higher education.
Investing in higher education
In the area of Higher Education, the Government will deliver improved outcomes under the Education Revolution with measures that will ensure that access to higher education is merit based, while also providing incentives to target specific areas of skills shortage. The Government will provide $249.0 million to phase out full fee paying undergraduate places from 2009 and $238.6 million to double the number of Commonwealth scholarships from 44,000 to 88,000 by 2012. The Government will also provide $49.5 million to establish a new school of dentistry at James Cook University. In addition, $625.8 million will be provided to encourage more students to study maths and science and take up related occupations, $12.4 million will be provided to fund a HECS/HELP remission for all early childhood education teachers working in eligible regions, and $18.6 million will be provided for additional nursing and medical places at the University of Notre Dame.
Skilling Australia
The Government's Education Revolution will implement a number of strategies that will ensure that Australian workers have the skills they need so that Australian industry can compete effectively in the global marketplace. These measures include the $1.9 billion package, Skilling Australia for the Future which comprises the following five elements: $884.6 million to provide an additional 238,200 vocational education and training places to people currently outside the workforce; $704.6 million to provide an additional 391,800 places for people within the workforce; $242.2 million for an additional 85,000 Australian apprenticeship places; $83.2 million for strengthened industry skills councils; and $4.1 million for skills and training information centres. In addition the Government will provide $98.1 million for grants that will enable year 9‑12 students to participate in on‑the‑job training as well as $19.6 million to create the statutory body, Skills Australia.
Improving our schools
High performing schools are critical to the success of every young Australian. The Government's Education Revolution will deliver on its commitment to improve literacy and numeracy skills, raise student achievements and lift school retention rates. The Government will provide $1.0 billion ($2.5 billion over ten years) for trades training centres in schools as well as $577.4 million to establish the National Action Plan for Literacy and Numeracy and $62.4 million for the National Asian languages in schools. The Government will also provide $1.2 billion for the Digital Education Revolution, which includes the National Secondary Schools Computer Fund, and the provision funding for the technical framework to support the Digital Education Revolution. In addition, the Government will provide $6.4 million to promote school‑business linkages and $5.0 million will be provided to establish a mentoring program. $62.5 million will be provided to build facilities to be shared between schools under the local schools working together program as well as $16.0 million in additional funding for Orthodox Jewish schools. The Government will also provide $17.2 million to establish the National Schools Assessment Data Centre and $20.0 million to establish a National Curriculum board for Australian schools.
Early Childhood Revolution
In the area of Early Childhood Education, the Government's Education Revolution will deliver a systematic approach to comprehensive, integrated, high‑quality early childhood education and care services for all children. The funding will include $533.5 million to roll‑out universal access to early learning for all Australian four‑year olds and $2.5 million to establish an early years learning framework. The Government will also provide $27.1 million for the Home Interaction program and $53.9 million to provide additional early childhood education university places. In addition, $23.9 million will be provided to extend assistance under the Jobs, Education and Training child care fee assistance program and $114.5 million will be provided to establish 38 child care centres and the associated additional places.
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