³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾

Communique of meeting of Federal, State and Territory Skills Ministers

The Hon Brendan O'Connor MP
Minister for Skills and Training
The Hon Steve Whan MP
NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education
The Hon Blair Boyer MP
South Australian Minister for Education, Training & Skills
The Hon Felix Ellis MP
Tasmanian Minister for Skills, Training and Workforce Growth
The Hon Di Farmer MP
Minister for Employment and Small Business
Minister for Training and Skills Development
Minister for Youth Justice
Hon Joel Bowden MLA
NT Minister for Skills Training and International Education
The Hon Chris Steel MLA
ACT Minister for Skills
The Hon Gayle Tierney MP
Victorian Minister for Skills and TAFE

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 ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ 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.

³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Skills Agreement and work priorities for 2024

The ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ 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 ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ 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 ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Skills Agreement initiatives and reform of foundation skills; and First Nations engagement including Closing the Gap.

/Public Release. View in full .