The DEWR website provides details about the new National Skills Agreement (NSA). This is a 5-year partnership agreement between the Australian and State and Territory Governments. It will provide states and territories “with access to additional Commonwealth funds of up to $3.7 billion over 5 years.” According to the site, “this takes total Commonwealth investment in state and territory training systems to up to $12.6 billion over 5 years.”
The agreement aims 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.”
The priorities include:
- “Clean energy and Net Zero transformation of the economy.
- Australia’s sovereign capability, including advanced manufacturing skills, national security, food security and construction.
- Care and support services, and
- Ensuring Australia’s digital and technology capability.”
There are factsheets!
The DEWR site provides access to a number of factsheets. One is focused on providing an overview of the agreement. Others consider TAFE Centres of Excellence, foundation skills, completion issues, the VET workforce and closing the gap.
A quick overview of the NSA
According to the overview, “the $12.6 billion investment by the Commonwealth includes an extra $2.4 billion in flexible funding to support State and Territory skills sectors with capacity to deliver skills for critical and emerging industries.” In addition, and over a period of time, “there is up to an additional $1.3 billion of Commonwealth funding to implement agreed reforms including:
- $325 million to establish nationally networked TAFE Centres of Excellence and strengthen collaboration between TAFEs, universities and industry.
- $100 million to support, grow and retain a quality VET workforce.
- $155 million to establish a National TAFE leadership Network to promote cutting edge curriculum.
- $214 million for Closing the Gap initiatives to be designed in partnership with First Nations people and led by them.
- $250 million to improve VET completions including women and others who face completion challenges.
- $142 million to improve foundation skills training capacity, quality and accessibility, and
- $116 million to improve VET evidence and data.