VET News

Address to the Australian Financial Review – Workforce Summit

Highlights from Minister O'Connor's AFR Workforce Summit opening  keynote

Minister for Skills and Training  - The Hon Brendan O'Connor addressed the Australian Financial Review's Workforce Summit on 12th February 2024, highlighting the challenges and opportunities facing the nation's skills and training sector. He outlined key reforms underway to address the skills gap and prepare Australia's workforce for the future. The AFR Workforce Summit gathers the nation’s most influential business leaders, policymakers and industry insiders to discuss the profound shifts facing workforces and strategies organisations can implement to prepare for the future. 

Key points included the following:

• Skills crisis: The Minister acknowledged the "worst skills crisis in 50 years," inherited from the previous government. Declining apprenticeships, underfunding, and lack of national cohesion were identified as major issues.
• Shifting focus: The transition to net-zero, population growth, and an aging society demand skilled tradespeople, care workers, and cybersecurity professionals.
• Jobs and Skills Australia: This new agency provides an industry-centric approach to identifying workforce needs and fostering collaboration between stakeholders.
• Industry-led reform: 10 newly formed Jobs and Skills Councils will guide education and training delivery based on industry needs
• Modernising qualifications: Qualifications are being reformed to improve portability and ensure relevance to industry needs, particularly in the rapidly evolving digital economy.
• Digital skills for all: Free digital foundation skills training is offered to address the growing demand for digital literacy.
• Focus on care and support: The care workforce needs to double with the NDIS rollout. VET will play a key role in upskilling and training workers.
• Net-zero workforce: The Clean Energy Generation report identifies crucial occupations for the clean energy transition, and targeted programs are being implemented.
• VET as an engine of opportunity: The Minister emphasises the vital role of VET in providing pathways to secure jobs and economic mobility.
• National Skills Agreement: A $30 billion agreement with states and territories aims to transform the VET sector.
• Breaking the binary: Collaboration between VET and higher education is encouraged to move beyond the traditional divide and address national challenges.
• TAFE Centres of Excellence: These centres will bring together TAFEs, industry, and universities to address key skills needs in strategic areas.
• Evaluation and continuous improvement: The government emphasises the need to constantly evaluate the quality of education and training to adapt to a changing economy.

To read the Minister's Media Release, see: Address to the Australian Financial Review - Workforce Summit

Date posted Feb 15, 2024