TAFE Queensland helps graduates into jobs

TAFE Queensland has achieved strong results in producing job-ready graduates with nearly 84 per cent of 2006 graduates in employment after completing their training.

Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said the new figures released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research for 2006 graduates showed Queensland scoring above the national figure of 81 per cent.

“Queensland is not only attracting record numbers of people into training, we are also providing training that is attuned to the needs of employers,” Mr Welford said.

“Around 89 per cent of TAFE graduates were either employed, or in further studies, after their training.

“The reforms undertaken in the Government’s $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan to restructure the TAFE system are helping to improve the quality of training and ensuring that training answers the needs of individuals, industry and the global marketplace.

“These figures indicate that TAFE is providing quality vocational education and training which benefits students and the wider community.”

Mr Welford said graduates’ satisfaction with the overall quality of training was around 89 per cent, slightly up from 2005.

Some nine out of 10 Queensland graduates reported that they had fully, or partly, achieved their main reason for undertaking study.

“It is clear from this feedback from over 10,000 of our students that a strong training culture exists in Queensland,” Mr Welford said.

“Relevant training is critical in addressing skills shortages in key industries and ensuring Queensland’s economy remains healthy.

“Our Government will continue to drive the training agenda by working with employers, industry and business to implement strategies and deliver training that meets the changing needs of the training environment.”

Media contact: Marnie Stitz or Emma Clarey on 3237 1000