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The Coalition says it will build 12 new technical colleges to provide school students with the opportunity to develop in-demand skills.
If it is , a Dutton government will spend $260 million during its first term to deliver new Australian technical colleges, which are specialist schools for Years 10-12 or 11-12.
The colleges were first established by former prime minister John Howard.
Students are enrolled in a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship, as well as completing academic, information technology and business courses that lead to a Year 12 certificate.
The Coalition said technical colleges have completion rates of 80-90 per cent, compared with state-run TAFEs, which have rates of around 40-50 per cent.
It has committed to building one new college in every state, which would be funded in partnership with industry partners and government and non-government organisations.
The Coalition said the colleges would be established on both greenfields and existing sites but must be new schools or substantially new campuses.
It will contribute to the cost of setting up the new colleges, with ongoing funding to be provided via ordinary school funding arrangements.
It’s expected the new colleges will initially be located in regions with skill shortages, high rates of youth unemployment or those with strategically significant industries.
It’s hoped the colleges will anchor a permanent increase in the number of students who take up skilled careers.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton said he wants to see more young Australians learn a trade and the colleges would help train the next generation of workers needed to build more homes and infrastructure, and in areas like defence and nuclear energy.
“Part of our plan will mean building the workforce we need to tackle the housing and construction challenges head-on,” he said.
Sussan Ley, Coalition spokesperson for skills and training, said up to 50 per cent of students in countries like France and Germany took up critical skills pathways in schools. This compares to just 1 per cent of Australian students who take up a school-based apprenticeship.
“We have always rejected the idea that if you haven’t made it to university, then you haven’t made it in life — and that principle underpins this significant announcement,” she said.
The Howard government oversaw the establishment of 28 Australian technical colleges following a 2004 election pledge.
The Coalition also has a target to restore the number of apprentices and trainees to above 400,000 and will pay small and medium businesses $12,000 for taking on new apprentices in critical trades.
Labor has promised to establish 100,000 fee-free TAFE places each year from 2027 and to increase the income threshold required before students start paying back their loans.
Apprentice tradies working in the housing industry have also been promised $2,000 payments, delivered progressively throughout their training, up to a total of $10,000 once they complete their course.
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