Since the global financial crisis in 2008 job prospects for new graduates are the worst they’ve been since the 1980s (The Australian Newspaper, 2015). Only 68% of new graduates who have completed a bachelor degree find full-time work within the first four months of finishing their degree, which is grim to say the least. To tackle this weakening job market, gaining a good education – that combines both vocational and higher level study – is more important than ever.
Thanks to the prevalence of programs targeted at students aspiring to work in the health sector, gaining hands-on skills to make you job ready are more accessible than ever. Studying a vocational course will also get you the qualification you need to start working in the health industry while you move on to further study at university.
In 2016, the NCVER found that there was a 4.8% increase in the number of students undertaking government-funded training in the first nine months of 2016 than there were in the same period during 2015. In total, 56.7% of the students enrolled in some form of Vocational Education and Training (VET) course were attending TAFE institutes and other government providers, while 41.4% were studying certificate III programs. If you’re trying to gain employment in the health sector, undertaking one of these courses could be a beneficial career move for you. From a Certificate III in Pathology Collection to a Diploma of Laboratory Technology, you have the opportunity to kick-start your career by gaining the hands-on technical skills you need to work in your chosen industry. The skills and knowledge you gain in these courses can also assist with your further study, should you decide to study at a university level, doing anything from a science degree to a Bachelor of Nursing.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) also found in their study, Education and Work, Australia, May 2016 that almost one in five people were enrolled in a Certificate III or IV, this equates to a total of 19% of the estimated over three million people that were enrolled in formal study in 2016. These figures aren’t at all surprising given the practical benefits of undertaking a VET course prior to obtaining employment, or continuing on to further education. Some of these benefits include, increased employability, more hands-on experience, and a proven pathway to get into University if you’re a mature-aged student, or were unable to get into your chosen university course straight from school.
There is also a strong demand for such qualifications in the Australian labour market with the ABS concluding in their report Australian Social Trends, September 2012, that the qualifications attained through VET related courses are often needed to help Australians achieve their career goals.
If you’re interested in pursuing vocational training, LTT has a range of laboratory technician, technology, health and pathology courses available. With the help of subsidised training options, LTT can set you on the right path to achieve your long-term career goals.