The Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation, The Hon Jacinta Allan MP, announced on 2 April 2009 that the Victorian Government is developing a plan for the growth of the tertiary sector  in Victoria up to 2025.

Transcript of The Hon Jacinta Allan MP announcing the Tertiary Education Plan (PDF 54KB)

The Tertiary Education Plan (the plan) will develop necessary policy responses by the Victorian Government to the Review of Australian Higher Education (the Bradley Report) and the Commonwealth Government's response to the Review.

Tertiary education is an area which impacts on many areas of government policy and the plan will align government objectives in relevant areas. It is anticipated that the plan will draw upon and draw together existing government initiatives, and identify opportunities to connect these initiatives with stakeholder needs and opportunities created by the Commonwealth's responses to the Bradley Report.

The Tertiary Education Plan will contain targets and strategies to improve accessibility to tertiary education and stimulate growth in participation rates.

A scoping document which provides the objectives, scope and timelines for the development of the Tertiary Education plan is available.

Progress Note on Development of a Tertiary Education Plan (PDF 46KB)

The Tertiary Education Plan Expert Panel

The Minister has appointed an expert panel to oversee the development of the plan. The members of the expert panel are:

• Professor Kwong Lee Dow (Chair)
• Dr Bronte Adams
• Mr David Phillips
• Ms Jennifer Dawson

Scope of the Tertiary Education Plan

The expert panel will focus on the following areas:

• outer urban and regional provision of university and vocational training
• proposed national regulatory arrangements
• the interface between higher education, VET and schools
• funding to the higher education sector and its capacity to meet demand in Victoria
• innovation and research
• industry needs
• international students
• infrastructure needs.

The plan will make recommendations for Victoria over three timeframes:

1. Within one year – immediate requirements.
2. Within 5 years – systemic changes.
3. 10-15 years – actions to meet national higher education targets.

The expert panel is to report to the Minister by 30 November 2009.

As requested by the Minister, the Panel have produced a progress report on the development of the Plan. The progress report outlines the Panel's preliminary  findings and commentary on key issues relevant to the future of tertiary education in Victoria. 

Read the Progress Report

Expert Panel Report on Victoria's Tertiary Education Plan (PDF 898.1 kb)

Contact and Further Information

Any submissions or contributions that individuals and organisations wish to make to the expert panel to assist it in its deliberations can be forwarded to:

Tertiary Education Plan Secretariat
Skills Victoria
Level 3, 2 Treasury Place, East Melbourne, 3000

Email: tertiary.education.plan@diird.vic.gov.au
Tel: (03) 9637 3902
Fax: (03) 9637 2720