Josh Williams

You and I, Alexia, we're never going to wake up in a world where the employers go, the schools have cracked it.

They finally got it right.

Every young person can walk into any employer anywhere and they already know what to do.

I don't have to train them.

They knew where the light switches were.

So it's not a reasonable expectation.

But what employers do talk about is some basic skills, literacy, numeracy, and really what are the kind of expected behaviours and cultures of workplaces.

Being nice to the customers.

turn up on time, meet a deadline.

Those kinds of employability skills are super important.

And again, it to me goes to the ecosystem that we need that when we're in year 11, 12, 13, these young people are 16 years old.

They're able to leave school and go and get work.

Why can't we have a much more permeable interface?

That means that young people are exploring things in tertiary providers.

trying out a few things, finding their next step and pathway.

Some young people have got a very clear idea of where they want to go.

So I think the idea that they'll be able to proactively choose industry subjects that are integrated with the mainstream curriculum is a really important step forward so they can be proactively working through programs that involve arrangements with tertiary providers and employers.

Look, I don't know anything other than what we've seen is that the fees-free system is being scrapped and that we're going to point that towards trades training.

I think that's a very good idea.

Look, certainly I think the first year free and then followed by the final year free, if you look at the system numbers, it wouldn't suggest it's made a great deal of difference to participation.