This audit examined whether the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training is achieving successful learning and employment outcomes through its public and private providers.

The audit addressed this by assessing whether public investment in vocational education and training (VET) is:

• meeting Queensland’s skilling needs
• achieving student learning and employment outcomes
• cost-effective.

We focused on the department, which has overall responsibility for managing the public investment in VET. The department aims to provide individuals with training and employment opportunities aligned with Queensland’s employment, skilling, and economic priorities.

We also examined a sample of public and private VET providers who receive government funding and/or subsidies. We included in our audit:

• TAFE Queensland
• Central Queensland University (a provider of VET services since 1 July 2014 when Central Queensland University merged with Central Queensland Institute of TAFE)
• five private VET providers that receive state subsidies
• four community-based organisations that receive funding under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative (which provides support for disadvantaged people to access training and find employment).