Fast-tracking trade recognition for experienced workers in NSW

The Trade Pathways for Experienced Workers (TPEW) program is a NSW Government initiative aimed at supporting experienced workers to obtain formal trade qualifications. It acknowledges the capabilities and expertise individuals have gained through workplace experience and offers a structured pathway to achieve a nationally recognised qualification through a mix of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and targeted gap training.

TPEW contributes to workforce development across priority industries by helping experienced but unqualified workers formalise their skills, enhancing job security, career opportunities and overall productivity. Training is delivered by approved providers under the Smart and Skilled program, with subsidised places available for eligible participants.

While initially targeted at the building and construction sector, the program also supports NSW Government commitments under the National Housing Accord by increasing the number of qualified tradespeople. It further extends to roles within water industry operations, recognising the sector’s essential role in enabling construction activity.

For further details on eligibility and the qualifications available, visit the TPEW website.

Public Sector Traineeship Program driving career growth across NSW

The 1,000 NSW Public Sector Apprentices and Trainees Program continues to create strong career pathways, with more than 600 participants currently earning and learning across 73 NSW Government agencies and State-owned Corporations. The initiative is building a pipeline of skilled workers while offering practical, paid experience alongside formal training.

One participant, Leilani Reid, began her traineeship with Revenue NSW in early 2025 while completing a Certificate IV in Project Management Practice. Her strong performance has already seen her step into a dual role, combining her traineeship with a project officer position in an Operational Excellence and Strategy team.

Through her role, Leilani contributes to day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives, gaining experience in areas such as project management, corporate communications, research and stakeholder engagement. Her exposure to senior teams and complex projects has accelerated her development and broadened her career opportunities.

Leilani also highlights the value of inclusive workplaces, noting that her neurodivergence has been a strength in her professional growth. Her experience reflects the program’s broader impact in supporting diverse talent and enabling individuals to thrive in public sector careers.

The program is now in its final recruitment round, with more than 400 additional roles on offer, surpassing the original 1,000 placement target and further strengthening NSW’s future workforce capability.

Read the full article on the NSW Department of Education website.

Aboriginal pathways pilot strengthens opportunities in water workforce 

The NSW Government has launched a new pilot initiative in the Shoalhaven region aimed at creating stronger employment and training pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people seeking careers in water operations.

The Aboriginal Pathways: Fresh Start into Water Operations short course provides participants with foundational industry skills, including water sampling and testing, workplace health and safety, and an introduction to career opportunities within the water sector. Delivered through a partnership between the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Aboriginal Affairs NSW, NSW Water Directorate, Shoalhaven Water, and local training providers, the program reflects a coordinated whole-of-government approach to workforce development.

The two-week pilot is designed as a scalable model that could be expanded across regional NSW to address local workforce shortages while supporting Aboriginal community participation in essential infrastructure sectors. Importantly, Shoalhaven Water plans to offer more than 10 full-time traineeships following the pilot, creating direct pathways from introductory training into long-term employment.

Co-funded through the NSW Department of Education’s Training Services and the Office of Local Government’s Fresh Start program, the initiative aligns with broader government priorities around Closing the Gap, regional workforce capability, and building sustainable skills pipelines for critical public services.

This program highlights the growing role of targeted, community-led VET and traineeship initiatives in strengthening workforce diversity, supporting regional service delivery, and developing the next generation of skilled water industry professionals.

Read the Minister’s Media Release.

New dataset strengthens links between VET and career pathways

Jobs and Skills Australia has released its new Training to Occupation Pathways (TOP) dataset, a significant analytical tool designed to better connect vocational education and training (VET) qualifications with real-world employment outcomes.

The TOP dataset enables users to explore career pathways from two directions, starting with a qualification to identify potential occupations or beginning with an occupation to understand the training options available. This provides clearer insight for students, career practitioners, workforce planners, policymakers, and industry stakeholders seeking to align training investment with labour market demand.

Developed using advanced natural language processing (NLP) combined with extensive validation from JSA analysts, Jobs and Skills Councils, and industry experts, TOP introduces a more sophisticated view of qualification-to-job relationships. Importantly, it includes a new five-part pathways typology, such as ‘occupation ready’, ‘specialised training’, ‘progression pathway’, ‘pre-vocational’, and ‘related’ which helps users understand not just whether qualifications connect to occupations, but how they support entry, progression, or reskilling.

The release reflects growing national efforts to improve transparency and usability of training data, while reinforcing the broader role of VET in supporting workforce mobility, upskilling, and economic resilience. JSA has also published an accompanying methodology paper to ensure transparency in the dataset’s development and ongoing refinement.

Access the tool via the Jobs and Skills Australia website.