Online vocational education and training (VET) is a large and growing market in Australia:

• Strong economic growth supported by the resources boom has led to significant skills shortages in a number of skilled occupations.
• An ageing population and a reduction in the growth rate of immigration have exacerbated the skills shortage.
• VET makes a significant contribution to skilling Australia’s workforce.
• Approximately 40% of the Australian workforce has no post schooling qualification.
• Currently 1.9m students are enrolled in VET qualifications at public institutions.
• Online education has been growing at a compound rate in excess of 22% pa and is currently a $4.2bn revenue market in Australia.
• One of the fastest growing segments is adult learners who seek to gain new skills and qualifications but who do not have the option to attend face-to-face classes.