New year, new five-year national skills agreement

This week sees the start of the new five-year National Skills Agreement between the Federal Government and the states and territories, unlocking up to $30 billion for the vocational education and training (VET) sector.

The agreement aims to reform the sector and herald a more collaborative approach to training and recognising qualifications in technical services, trades and apprenticeships across the nation.

The Federal Government is kicking in $12.6 billion for flexible funding to help deliver training for critical industries such as clean energy, essential care services, food security, and digital and technology capability.

An additional $1.3 billion will help implement reforms under the agreement, including a nationally networked TAFE Centres of Excellence and greater cooperation between TAFEs, universities and industry.

Other initiatives include a quality VET workforce; a National TAFE Network to foster collaboration and promote cutting-edge curriculum; Closing the Gap initiatives to be designed in partnership with First Nations people; improving VET completions, including for women and others who face completion challenges; improving foundation skills training capacity, quality and access; and improving VET evidence and data.

Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor said if state and territory governments access all the Commonwealth funding available under the agreement, the combined investment by governments into the VET sector will be up to $30 billion over five years.

“A high-performing VET sector is essential for achieving a fairer society and a stronger economy,” Mr O’Connor said.

“This $30 billion agreement is a fundamental shift in how governments work together to help address the lack of skilled workers, one of the biggest economic challenges we face.

“Importantly, this will open up many and various opportunities for Australians wanting to upskill or reskill so they can get well-paid and secure jobs.

“This is on top of our very successful Fee-Free TAFE program, which will see a further 300,000 places available starting from [1 January].”

Mr O’Connor also released an expanded Australian Apprenticeship Priority List.

The 2024 list adds 19 new occupations to make more apprentices and trainees undertaking training in designated priority occupations eligible for extra financial support.

Extra financial support also becomes available to their employers.

An eligible full-time apprentice may receive up to $10,000 over the duration of their apprenticeship to help with cost of living pressures, while an employer may receive support of up to $15,000 over the duration of the apprenticeship.

The 19 new occupations being added to the 2024 Apprenticeships Priority List are:

• Ambulance officer
• Animal husbandry technician
• Aquaculture or fisheries technician
• Architectural draftsperson
• Boatbuilder and repairer
• Earth science technician
• Fire protection plumber
• Flight attendant
• Furniture maker
• Graphic pre-press trades worker
• Irrigation designer
• Irrigation technician
• Light technician
• Mine deputy
• Nursing support worker
• Out-of-school hours care worker
• Pharmacy technician
• Shipwright
• Sound technician.

“The occupations on the list are based on hard evidence drawn from public and private data that has been analysed by Jobs and Skills Australia,” Mr O’Connor said.

“The work carried out by Jobs and Skills Australia is imperative to determine what skills are needed today and what skills will be needed to future-proof Australia.”

Almost 38,000 apprentices and trainees across 60 in-demand occupations are now also eligible for financial assistance under the expanded Australian Apprenticeship Support Loans scheme.

Eligible apprentices and trainees may apply for loans, which provide cost-of-living assistance of up to $24,492 interest-free over the course of the apprenticeship.

As encouragement to achieve career goals, apprentices and trainees receive a 20 per cent discount on their total loans when they complete their training.

For the first time, the revised program includes non-trade apprentices and trainees in areas such as early childhood education, aged care and disability care.