The Australian and state and territory governments have released the first National Skills Plan developed under the 5-year National Skills Agreement. It sets out the Australian and state and territory governments’ national approach to delivering Australia’s skills needs for individuals, industry and community.
Vocational education and training (VET) is a vital pathway for Australians to gain the skills they need to obtain secure and well-paid jobs. Australia is experiencing many critical workforce shortages across a number of key industries. VET is central to addressing these shortages and ensuring all Australians can meaningfully participate in the economy.
The National Skills Plan provides a framework for all governments to meet agreed outcomes and deliver on national priorities. It has been developed in collaboration with state and territories and informed by engagement and consultation with First Nations representatives and tripartite bodies – Jobs and Skills Australia and Jobs and Skills Councils.
All jurisdictions, including the Commonwealth, will develop their own jurisdictional action plans that provide their specific actions that contribute to achieving the national outcomes and priorities.
Releasing the National Skills Plan is an important step in progressing the joint stewardship model for the national VET system.
The National Skills Plan identifies the drivers of change, focus areas and early actions for the national priorities in the National Skills Agreement. The national priorities are:
- Gender equality
- Closing the Gap
- Supporting the net zero transformation
- Sustaining essential care services
- Developing Australia’s sovereign capability and food security
- Ensuring Australia’s digital and technology capability
- Delivering housing supply
- Delivering reforms to improve the regulation of VET qualifications and quality
The National Skills Plan is not a set-and-forget plan, recognising change takes time and priorities shift. It sets the direction for the first stage of actions for the National Skills Agreement and will build on what is working well and respond to new needs.
The Plan will be reviewed on an annual basis, with later plans reflecting evidence and stakeholder feedback on progress against outcomes and priorities, gaps in achievement, and new and emerging circumstances to be addressed.
More information
- Read the National Skills Plan
- Read the Minister's communique
- Read the National Skills Plan factsheet
- Find out about the National Skills Agreement