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Investing in skills for a more productive future - Communiqué from third meeting of the Strategic Industry Forum

The Strategic Industry Forum had its third meeting of industry leaders on 2 June 2010 to discuss possible changes to the funding of Australia's VET sector to lift workforce participation, adult literacy, productivity, employment opportunities and job satisfaction.

Skills Australia Business Plan 2010

The Skills Australia Business Plan 2010 builds on the strategic direction and objectives established by Skills Australia in 2009 and sets out the priorities and activities that the organisation will undertake in 2010 in order to achieve those objectives.

Lifting Quality in Training - Communiqué from second meeting of the Strategic Industry Forum

The Strategic Industry Forum had its second meeting of industry leaders on 20 November 2009 to discuss the current and future quality of the national training system.

Australian Workforce Futures

Skills Australia has released its paper ‘Australian Workforce Futures: A National Workforce Development Strategy’ reporting recommendations for a fundamental overhaul in the way the nation approaches and supports workforce development—at a national, industry and enterprise level.

The vision for this strategy is that Australia has the workforce capability it requires for a productive, sustainable and inclusive future, and that Australian enterprises have the capacity to develop and use the skills of their workforce to maximum advantage for the benefit of industry and the community.

Foundations for the Future: Findings and Recommendations

Skills Australia's position paper 'Foundations for the Future: Proposals for the Governance, Architecture and Market Design of the National Training System' has been released, reporting findings and recommendations for a new governance framework for the National Training System.

The paper involved an extensive review and consultations across all jurisdictions and engagement with key stakeholders, the paper supporting a more aligned and streamlined governance model for an integrated tertiary sector.

Download a copy of the report: 'Foundations for the Future: Proposals for the Governance, Architecture and Market Design of the National Training System':

  • Foreword, Executive Summary and Summary of recommendations
    (PDF 157KB)*
  • Section One - Introduction
    (PDF 134KB)*
  • Section Two - The context of Skills Australia's advice
    (PDF 77KB)*
  • Section Three - Leading a unified vision for skills to support a national economy
    (PDF 193KB)*
  • Section Four - Providing the evidence base for policy and reform
    (PDF 77KB)*
  • Section Five - Investing wisely and effectively in skills and workforce development
    (PDF 116KB)*
  • Section Six - Regulating and ensuring quality services and products
    (PDF 364KB)*
  • Section Seven - Using information for system performance and client choice
    (PDF 87KB)*
  • Section Eight - Providing training services that meet needs
    (PDF 85KB)*
  • Appendix A
    (PDF 39KB)*
  • Appendix B
    (PDF 120KB)*

Download the full report

Media Release

Strategic Industry Forum

The Strategic Industry Forum report summarises the outcomes of the first Strategic Industry forum facilitated by Skills Australia on 20 February 2009.

The specific aims of the forum were to:

  • articulate a collective vision
  • identify mechanisms for the industry leadership, and
  • develop mechanisms for collaboration

The members of the forum included the chairs of the boards of the Industry Skills Councils, representatives of several key industry peak bodies, and the chairs of State Training Authorities.

Governance and architecture of Australia’s VET sector: Country Comparisons

Skills Australia contracted NCVER to undertake research into the governance and architecture of VET systems in OECD countries other than Australia.

NCVER was asked to address seven specific questions as part of this research:

  • How are industry parties embedded in the governance of national VET Systems?
  • How are industry parties embedded in the governance of national VET Systems?
  • How do countries plan for and anticipate emerging and future skills needs? What role do industry parties play in these processes?
  • How is public funding disbursed and how is it tied to outcomes?
  • What is the impact of competition on governance structure?
  • How can governance arrangements be structured to engender industry funding support for formally accredited education and training
  • How complex are governance arrangements in other countries, and particularly in federal countries?

NCVER’s major findings against each of the seven questions can be found in the following report:

  • Governance and architecture of Australia’s VET sector: Country Comparisons.
    (PDF 2MB | RTF 2.5MB)

Occasional Paper: The Labour Market, Skills Demand and Skills Formation

In September 2008 Skills Australia and the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) joined together in sponsoring a half day seminar to discuss how current research findings could inform policy makers and practitioners about the labour market and future skills needs.

There have been significant changes in labour market demand and the seminar was intended to provide input into Skills Australia's determination of its future research priorities as well as inform its advice more generally. The specific topics of discussion covered at the seminar include:

  • The demand for skills
  • The demand for training
  • Workforce development and the use of skills; and
  • Skills training returns.

This paper presents the outcomes of the seminar and sets in context the proceedings in a broader public policy framework.

  • The Labour Market, Skills Demand and Skills Formation
    (PDF 1MB)*

Industry Skills Forum

At a strategic industry forum held on 20 February 2009, key industry and government figures resolved to ensure that skills development and training do not become a casualty of the current uncertain economic times.

Industry leaders identified four key areas for action to strengthen Australia's skills base:

  • strategic industry leadership
  • quality
  • funding and equity; and
  • using evidence-based policy and planning.

Work on the four themes identified will be coordinated by a Working Group, which will help drive change in collaboration with broader industry and community stakeholders.

A communiqué and associated media release from the forum is available:

Skills Australia Governance Discussion Paper – September/October 2008

Skills Australia has produced a discussion paper on ‘Future governance arrangements for the National Training System’. The purpose of the paper was to canvass the views of stakeholders on the governance framework.

These views will then be used to inform Skills Australia’s advice and recommendations to the Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

A final report will be prepared by Skills Australia, based upon the submissions, further consultations and the results of work that has been commissioned to inform on international best practice. This report will be finalised in the first half of 2009.

  • Skills Australia Discussion Paper
    "Future governance arrangements for the National Training System"
    (PDF197KB | RTF15MB)

NOUS Group's Report - August/September 2008

To facilitate Skills Australia’s role in advising the Deputy Prime Minister in relation to Australia's workforce skills needs and workforce development needs, forums led by the Industry Skill Councils (ISCs) with participation of state industry representatives were held across Australia during the period 18 August 2008 to 28 August 2008.

The forums were well received and stakeholders welcomed the opportunity to provide input and work with Skills Australia. The forums drew on the extensive work already undertaken by the attendees to:

  • Identify the priority areas of skill needs in the sectors;
  • Enhance the process of workforce planning and identifying future areas of skill needs in the sectors, drivers of skills and labour shortages and industry response; and
  • Improve quality and consistency across industries in identifying skills needs.

The NOUS Group's report summarises information obtained from the forums.

  • The NOUS Group report - Skills Australia: Industry Skills Councils – Report on Facilitation of Forums
    (PDF 14KB)*

Feedback on the report can be sent by email to Skills Australia or by post to Skills Australia Secretariat, GPO Box 9880, Canberra ACT 2601.

Skills Australia Annual Report

  • Skills Australia Annual Report 2008/09
    This is the second annual report for Skills Australia covering our first full year of operation. The report was tabled in Parliament on 19 November 2009.
    (PDF 457KB | RTF 409KB)
  • Skills Australia Annual Report 2007/08
    This is the first Skills Australia Annual Report covering the months from establishment in March 2008 to the end of the financial year in June 2008. The report was tabled in Parliament on 1 December 2008.
    (PDF 151KB | RTF 784KB)

Skills Australia Workplan

* If you are having difficulty accessing this document please contact Skills Australia by email at secretariat@skillsaustralia.gov.au or contact 02 6340 5263.