National Skills Reform

A new National Skills Agreement

On 16 October 2023, National Cabinet agreed to a new 5-year National Skills Agreement (NSA) to strengthen the vocational education and training (VET) in Australia, unlocking billions of dollars to build the skills and prosperity of Queensland.

The NSA, developed under principles agreed by National Cabinet, will embed national cooperation and support strategic investment in Queensland's VET sector.

The NSA commits up to $2.54 billion of Australian Government investment for Queensland, to support Queensland's ongoing strong investment in skills and training, which will expand and transform access to the VET sector, support quality training, and implement reforms to address critical skills needs.

This new investment is on top of the $414 million already committed by the Australian Government for the delivery of 300,000 Fee-Free TAFE places nationally from 2024 to 2026.

The NSA will coordinate strategic investment 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.

Agreed inaugural national priorities under the NSA 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 reforms to improve the regulation of VET qualifications and quality.

Read more about the NSA and stay informed on National Skills Reform.

Details of how the Queensland Government will deliver on the NSA will be outlined in Queensland's new VET strategy, currently under development.

Skills Reform areas

Skills Ministers continue to be committed to improved industry engagement arrangements, quality and qualifications reforms.

Find out more about and be a part of Skills Reform:

• Strengthened role of industry and employers in the VET system
  • 10 Jobs and Skills Councils have now been established to provide industry with a stronger, more strategic voice in ensuring Australia's VET sector delivers stronger outcomes for learners and employers.
  • Find out more about Jobs and Skills Councils.
• Improved VET qualifications design
  • Following public consultation, a tripartite Qualification Reform Design Group has been established to further progress qualifications reform, and to design new training package rules for the development of units of competency and qualifications. A summary of the public consultation feedback is available.
  • Find out more about qualifications reforms.
• Supporting high-quality training delivery
  • Following public consultation, the revised 'Standards for Registered Training Organisations' have been further refined based on the feedback received. The consultation paper and consultation findings are available. Piloting of the revised Standards has commenced.
  • A Steering Group has been established to provide strategic guidance and oversight of the development of a VET Workforce Blueprint. Public consultation will also inform the development of the Blueprint.
  • Find out more about quality reforms.

A range of resources are also available on VET sector reforms. For more information, visit resources from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

Last updated 13 November 2023