VET News

The 2022-2023 Budget was released this week.  It promises to deliver on the government's commitment to building a stronger economy, to helping give more Australians the skills and training they need today, and to harness the jobs and opportunities of the future.
 
 This Budget will: 

• contribute $550 million to a $1 billion 12-month Skills Agreement that will support access to 180,000 fee-free TAFE and vocational education places from January 2023, jointly funded with States and Territories, as part of a commitment to 480,000 places over 4 years
• invest an additional $12.9 million to establish Jobs and Skills Australia to tackle skill shortages
• commit $62 million to deliver the Skilling the Clean Energy Workforce and fund a Clean Energy Capacity Study to ensure that Australia has the workforce we need to build our strong, green economy
• fund a National Study on Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy skills to increase participation in education, skills training, and employment opportunities
• deliver the Australian Skills Guarantee to ensure one in ten workers on major, federally funded government projects are an apprentice, trainee, or paid cadet
• invest $50 million in a TAFE Technology Fund to ensure facilities, workshops, laboratories, and telehealth simulators across the country are cutting edge and fit for purpose

“This Budget is about securing a more robust economy and tackling one of our greatest economic challenges in decades, the lack of skilled workers,” Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor said. “Whether it’s in the care sector, agriculture, hospitality and tourism, construction, technology, or a need for sovereign capability in manufacturing, we need to deliver these skills at a time of acute skills shortages.
 
“Australia is facing its most significant skill shortage in decades, exacerbated by COVID-19 and 10 long years of policy neglect. To provide greater opportunity for Australians to have secure and rewarding employment we must be able to skill and reskill our workforce.
 
“The 2022-23 Budget sets the skills and training sector back on the right path to provide for a secure economy and bright future for all Australians,” Minister O’Connor said.