Landmark National Skills Agreement between Australian and Queensland Governments
Posted on October 17th, 2023
A five-year National Skills Agreement (NSA) developed under principles agreed by National Cabinet, will embed national cooperation and strategic investment in Queensland’s vocational education and training sector.
States and Territories successfully sought a longer-term Commonwealth funding agreement with a five-year period providing funding certainty that supports Queensland in the development of its comprehensive QVET Strategy.
In an historic first, a new National Stewardship model 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.
The agreement places TAFE at the heart of the VET sector, with TAFEs to be supported by baseline funding commitments.
Major reforms will include the establishment of nationally networked TAFE Centres of Excellence involving partnerships between TAFEs, universities, Jobs and Skills Councils and industry.
The Australian Government is prepared to invest $2.54 billion, to support an investment close to $4billion by the Queensland Government which will expand and transform access to the VET sector, support quality training and implement reforms to address critical skills needs.
Nationally, the $12.6 billion investment by the Commonwealth includes an extra $2.4 billion in flexible funding to support State and Territory skills sectors with capacity to deliver skills for critical and emerging industries. Priorities include:
- Clean energy and Net Zero transformation of the economy.
- Australia’s sovereign capability, including advanced manufacturing skills, national security, food security and construction.
- Care and support services.
- Ensuring Australia’s digital and technology capability.
This new investment is on top of $414 million already committed for the delivery of 300,000 Fee-Free TAFE places from 2024.
CQUniversity as a dual sector University is included in this initiative – great for our students and industry!
In a significant shift away from the short- term, transactional working relationships of the past decade, a new National Stewardship approach on skills will provide a framework for cooperation across state borders and across national and State and Territory priorities.
