Media releases

Federation University Australia welcomes the Federal Budget’s focus on skills and training and investment in vocational education through the new Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow package.

The increased incentives for employers to take on apprentices in occupations where there is a skills shortages will help boost economic development in the region.

Creating a new National Skills Commission will provide much needed national leadership on the pricing of training and will complement both the Victorian Government’s investment in TAFE and Federation University’s own work to revitalise skills training in Ballarat and western Victoria.

The University welcomes the previously announced Budget measures to encourage more domestic and international students to study in regional areas with scholarships and improved visa conditions but is disappointed in the lack of infrastructure funding for universities.

Rather than repurposing the Education Investment Fund (EIF) to top-up funding for natural disaster recovery as outlined in the Budget, Federation University would have liked to see this fund reactivated.

It was originally set up to help universities build the facilities needed to carry out vital research and is particularly important for a regional university like Federation University, which has ageing facilities and does not have the same access to funds as larger city universities.

The University welcomes the $3.8 billion investment over 10 years for the Medical Research Future Fund and will be looking at ways to secure funding for the University’s medical research projects.

The $277 million investment in Indigenous education is also welcomed. This includes $200 million in additional scholarships and mentoring, which are important measures to help close the gap in education outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Quotes attributable to Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Helen Bartlett:

“The investment in TAFE and focus on skills and training is much needed and will complement the work Federation University is already doing with local industry to revitalise skills training, tackle shortages and support the local economy.”

“While we welcome measures to encourage more domestic and international students to study in regional areas, we would have liked to see more investment in university infrastructure so we can ensure our equipment and facilities match the high quality of our teaching and research.”