National skills strategies

The National Skills Agreement (NSA) is a 5-year joint funding agreement between the Commonwealth, states and territories to strengthen the vocational education and training sector. The NSA commenced on 1 January 2024.

• The NSA provides up to $12.6 billion in Commonwealth funding over 5 years
• It represents a fundamental shift in the way governments work together through a shared stewardship approach
• It identifies areas of national priority that require focused effort to address critical skills needs

The Skilling Australians Fund supports the uptake of additional apprenticeships, traineeships and other employment-related training to improve employment outcomes and meet employer, industry and labour market needs for skilled workers.

• Learn how the Fund supports the skilling of Australians
• Read the National Partnership on the Skilling Australians Fund

Energising Tasmania invested over $16 million from 2019-20 to 2022-23 to train a skilled workforce needed for the energy sector and to support the Battery of the Nation initiative.

Energising Tasmania made it attractive for Tasmanians to access vocational education and training to meet energy sector skills needs through nationally recognised training. The Australian and Tasmanian Governments are working together to determine priority skills needs and eligibility.

Fee-free training in priority skills areas will equip Tasmania’s workforce with the expertise needed to build and maintain pumped hydroelectricity, and the electrical and engineering skills to build the interconnection infrastructure with the National Electricity Market.

The initiative was managed through a National Partnership Project Agreement. An agreed annual Implementation Plan outlined key activities and milestones for the delivery of agreed outputs. Copies can be found on the Council of Federal Financial Relations website.

Registered training providers must make sure training products are regularly revised and updated. They must comply with national competency and assessment standards.

• Learn about the extension period
• Link to VET regulators
• Understand the national VET standards

National Skills Plan, developed by the Commonwealth state and territory governments, sets out the national approach to delivering Australia’s skills needs.