Senior officials observed the meeting for the Western Australian Government
Federal, State and Territory Skills and Training Ministers met in Hobart today to discuss implementation of the new 5-year National Skills Agreement (NSA), national priorities for skills and training, and to set the agenda for the Council’s national reform work in 2024.
Skills Ministers discussed the Council’s progress in 2023, including delivering on the shared vision of the vocational education and training (VET) sector through the NSA; positioning the VET sector to support a fair and productive economy; improving the quality and relevance of VET to industry and students through delivery of reforms and the success of Fee-Free TAFE in expanding access to skills in areas of high need across the economy.
National Skills Agreement and work priorities for 2024
The National Skills Agreement is a partnership between the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments, working in collaboration to ensure that the national VET system provides high-quality, responsive and accessible education and training to boost productivity, deliver national priorities and support Australians to obtain the skills and capabilities they need to obtain well-paid, secure jobs.
A new National Stewardship model will coordinate strategic investment by governments in skills across the economy and support delivery of skills needed in national priority areas, as well as providing States and Territories with flexibility to meet local industry skills needs.
Key Priorities for the Council in the coming year include: embedding the new model of stewardship to deliver national priorities; placing TAFE at the heart of the VET sector, building sector capability and establishing TAFE Centres of Excellence; delivery of key National Skills Agreement initiatives and reform of foundation skills; and First Nations engagement including Closing the Gap.
