Aug 12, 2025

NSW Public Sector ITAB August 2025 Newsletter

GTAN & WTAN online forums – Registrations open

Convened by the NSW Public Sector ITAB, these forums bring together stakeholders from the Government and Public Safety Skills and Training Network (GTAN) and Water Industry Skills and Training Network (WTAN) to exchange information and insights related to workforce development within the government, public safety, corrections, and water sectors across NSW.

Our next online network forums, are scheduled for 23 & 24 September and will feature guest speakers from a range of sectors, sharing information on emerging trends, innovative practices and skills & training challenges. These sessions will offer time for participants to ask questions about skills and training issues and get updates on VET reforms and the latest funding initiatives in NSW.

NB: Programs will be provided closer to the date.

Government and Public Safety Skills and Training Network (GTAN) Forum

(Includes all government agencies, Local Councils, Correctional Services, Public Safety, Police & Defence)

Date: Tuesday 23 September 2025
Time: 10:00am - 11:30am (AEDT)

Water Industry Skills and Training Network (WTAN) Forum

Date: Wednesday 24 September 2025
Time: 10:00am - 11:30pm (AEDT)

NSW launches review of apprenticeship and traineeship system

The NSW Government has begun a comprehensive review of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001 to modernise and strengthen the state’s skills framework. This forms part of the $3.4 billion skills and TAFE investment in the 2025–26 Budget — the largest in NSW history.

The review is a key commitment of the NSW Skills Plan and seeks to make the system simpler, more flexible, and better aligned to the needs of priority industries including construction, care and support, technology, and clean energy. It aims to boost completion rates, particularly for young people in regional NSW, and ensure pathways lead to secure, long-term careers.

A statewide Have Your Say survey is open to apprentices, trainees, employers, and training providers, with further consultation through employer, union, and industry roundtables in the coming months.

Minister for Skills Steve Whan said the feedback will help design a system that delivers for both workers and employers, supports regional growth, and meets the demands of industries facing critical skills shortages.

Access the Have Your Say survey before 11 September 2025.

NSW apprenticeship reform may include ‘Employer of Choice’ recognition

The NSW Government is considering introducing public “employer of choice” recognition for high-performing apprenticeship employers as part of proposed reforms to the NSW Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001.

Key reform areas under consultation include:

Recognition and compliance – introducing clearer minimum supervision standards, updated penalties for non-compliance, and restrictions on new commencements for serious or repeat offenders.
Stronger oversight – expanding the Commissioner’s powers for earlier, risk-based intervention to better protect apprentices and trainees.
Flexible training pathways – improving support for part-time and flexible arrangements, enabling degree-level apprenticeships, and streamlining competency-based completions.
Skills recognition – simplifying recognition of prior learning (RPL) and trade skills recognition (TSR) for experienced workers.
Reduced red tape – removing procedural barriers to completion where all training and assessment requirements have been met.

Skills recognition – simplifying recognition of prior learning (RPL) and trade skills recognition (TSR) for experienced workers.
Reduced red tape – removing procedural barriers to completion where all training and assessment requirements have been met.

The consultation paper Modernising the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001 emphasises the need for stronger safeguards to maintain quality, ensure fairness, and protect the integrity of the apprenticeship system.

NSW Government expands aboriginal employment opportunities

The NSW Government has opened applications for the 2025–26 Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grant, a $4 million program supporting Aboriginal employment and training across the state. Named after pioneering aviator and Aboriginal leader Elsa Dixon, the grant helps employers fund wages, training, and upskilling for Aboriginal staff, including school-based traineeships, full-time roles, and adult apprenticeships.

In 2024–25, the program created over 300 positions, with 219 being school-based apprenticeships and traineeships. Success stories include Korey Omeragic, who began a school-based traineeship in animal care and is now a Trainee Keeper at Taronga Zoo Sydney.

The initiative is part of the Minns Government’s Closing the Gap commitments and complements other targeted programs, such as the Barranggirra Mentoring Program and Opportunity Hubs, which provide culturally tailored pathways from school to work.

For more information on how to apply for this grant, visit the Skills NSW website.

Applications close 30 September 2025.

NSW Skills Plan 2024–28 – Strengthening VET for a future-ready workforce

The NSW Government has released the NSW Skills Plan 2024–28: Building Skills and Shaping Success, the state’s first skills plan since 2008. Developed in response to the NSW VET Review and aligned with the National Skills Agreement, the plan sets out a bold reform agenda to modernise the vocational education and training (VET) system and address critical workforce needs.

Central to the plan is a new system stewardship approach, fostering stronger collaboration between government, industry, training providers, and other stakeholders to deliver reforms and strategic priorities.

The plan targets industries with persistent skills shortages, including construction, digital and cyber security, and net zero and energy transition. It is supported by a robust evidence base, including:

Interim Skills Outcomes Framework – measures performance and promotes shared accountability across the VET sector.
State of the System Report (2025) – providing data-driven insights into NSW’s skills system and labour market.

Skills Outcomes Dashboard – an upcoming public tool to track performance against the framework.
Updated Critical Skills Areas Data Appendix – refreshed and reclassified using 4-digit ANZSCO groupings to better identify VET occupational shortages. (Note that ANZSCO codes are being utilised until the transition to OSCA (Occupation Standard Classification for Australia) is conducted in 2026.

These resources will guide decision-making, improve transparency, and ensure NSW has the skills needed for long-term economic growth and workforce resilience.

Provide feedback on industry training priorities in your industries

At the request of Training Services, ITABs would like to engage with our industry stakeholders to gather information and feedback which will assist the Department in making decisions with respect to training over the next few years.

The NSW Public Sector ITAB is in the process of collecting data to inform an Industry Training Priorities Report. To ensure all stakeholders have a voice in future decision making, there is a need to gather accurate and relevant information directly from our networks.

The following survey will supplement other engagement approaches, including focus group sessions and GTAN and WTAN forums during the month of September. These sessions will provide information on key strategies in the NSW Skills Plan and an opportunity to ask questions and share input directly.

Please access and complete the Training Priorities Survey by Friday 19 September 2025.

Bert Evans Scholarships – Financial support for NSW apprentices in hardship

Applications are open until 31 August 2025 for the Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships, which provide $5,000 per year for up to three years to support first-year apprentices in NSW experiencing financial or personal hardship. The funding can be used for essential items such as tools, learning resources, safety equipment, training courses, and other education-related costs.

Established in 2014, the $2.25 million program assists 150 apprentices each year, with priority given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander apprentices, people with disability, women entering non-traditional trades, mature-aged learners, and those from regional areas.

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said the scholarships reduce barriers to training and improve completion rates by easing cost-of-living pressures. A recent recipient, 17-year-old Maisen King, used the support to purchase trade tools, workwear, and fund an internet connection, as well as save towards a car to travel between work and TAFE.

The scholarships are named in honour of the late Bert Evans AO, a long-time advocate for apprenticeships, skills development, and vocational education in NSW.

More information can be found on the Skills NSW website.

NSW Councils recognised at 2025 Local Government Week Awards

Councils from across NSW have been celebrated for their exceptional contributions to local communities at the 2025 Local Government Week Awards, held in Sydney on 7 August.

The annual event, established in 1981, honours achievements in strategic planning, arts and culture, community events, and communications, highlighting the essential role councils play in everyday life.

Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President, Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM, praised the creativity, dedication, and resourcefulness of councils, acknowledging their impact “from playgrounds to community halls, youth services to roads, rates and rubbish.”

Key award highlights:

City of Parramatta – won both a Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Award and an LGNSW Planning Award.
Gilgandra Shire Council – received an LGNSW Planning Award and an RH Dougherty Award for Innovation in Special Events.
Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council, Canterbury Bankstown Council, WSROC – LGNSW Planning Awards.
Narrabri, Waverley, Camden, Rous County, Burwood, Central Coast Councils – RH Dougherty Awards for Events and Communications.
Central Darling Shire Council, Wagga Wagga City Council – Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Awards.

Mayor Miller congratulated all winners and nominees, emphasising that the awards showcase the inspiring work councils undertake to engage, support, and strengthen their communities.

Learn more about the winning projects here.

National Skills Week 2025 – showcasing the power of VET

National Skills Week 2025 is scheduled for 25–31 August and encourages Australians to “Explore ALL the Options” when considering career and study pathways. With critical skills shortages in sectors such as health, construction, digital technology, aviation, and manufacturing, the campaign highlights Vocational Education and Training (VET) as a first-choice pathway to practical, job-ready skills.

The week will feature inspiring VET success stories and focuses on key themes including women in trades, Indigenous participation, regional and remote access, and urgent skills needs in high-demand industries.

National Skills Week highlights the importance of positioning vocational training alongside university as an equally valued pathway, while Minister for Skills Andrew Giles called for greater “parity of esteem” between vocational training and university to ensure more young people are attracted to the jobs of the future.

To find out more about what’s happening across the week in NSW visit the National Skills Week website.

Partnership to drive Bradfield City’s growth

Bradfield City Centre is set to transform Western Sydney with 10,000 new homes and 20,000 jobs, unlocking major economic opportunities for the region. Driven by future-focused industries such as advanced manufacturing, the city will foster innovation and deliver high-quality, well-paid jobs close to where people live.

Located next to the upcoming Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, Bradfield City will feature modern infrastructure and 36 hectares of open space, creating a vibrant hub for advanced manufacturing, innovation, and industry growth in Western Sydney. It is hoped Bradfield will emerge as a prime hub for tourism and entertainment. Covering 114 hectares, it stands as one of Australia’s most ambitious urban developments and the nation’s first new city in more than 100 years.

Liverpool City Council and the Bradfield Development Authority (BDA) have signed a formal agreement to collaborate on delivering Bradfield City Centre.

The partnership will oversee new infrastructure, services, and investment in the Aerotropolis and Liverpool LGA, supporting the NSW Government’s Industry Policy and Local Manufacturing mission to boost sovereign capability, strengthen supply chains, and drive economic growth.

BDA Chair Jennifer Westacott AO said Bradfield will be a centre for advanced manufacturing and technological innovation, while Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun emphasised the benefits for community, business, and future job opportunities.

Find out more from the Bradfield Development Authority.

NSW strengthens firefighting capability with 200 new firefighters

NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib has recently welcomed over 200 new firefighters to Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) during a graduation ceremony at the Emergency Services Academy in Orchard Hills, Western Sydney.

The graduates come from diverse backgrounds, including trades, fitness, other emergency services, and community roles such as lifeguards and on-call firefighters transitioning to permanent positions.

The event also marked a significant enhancement to FRNSW’s operational capacity with the introduction of nearly $5 million in new fire trucks. These vehicles will be deployed to Gosford, Blacktown, Chester Hill, Newtown, and Bathurst, each equipped to meet the specific requirements of their locations.

Minister Dib described the occasion as a proud moment for both FRNSW and the broader community, acknowledging the dedication and selflessness of the recruits. He reaffirmed the NSW Government’s commitment to investing in the personnel and resources needed to keep the state safe and officially welcomed the new firefighters into the emergency services family.

Read the full article here.

Jobs and Skills Australia – Occupation and industry insights

Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) has updated its Occupation and Industry Profiles, offering current data on employment trends, wages, skill requirements, and education pathways across hundreds of jobs and industries.

The interactive resource helps individuals, employers, and workforce planners explore median wages, job growth forecasts, education and experience levels, demographics, and state-by-state employment patterns.

Key insights from the latest update include:

Aged and Disabled Carers are now Australia’s second-largest occupation, employing 367,200 people – up 10.7% in the past year.
The Education and Training sector has grown by over 330,000 workers in the past decade, making it a major driver of national job growth.
Fast Food Cooks is Australia’s youngest occupation, with a median age of 17 and 84% part-time employment.

The profiles are user-friendly, regularly updated, and designed to support career decisions, recruitment, and workforce planning.

Explore employment trends, wages, demographics, skill levels and national comparisons across hundreds of jobs and major industries on the Jobs and Skills Australia website.

National Jobs and Skills Council Update

Jobs and Skills Councils (JSCs) are a national network of industry owned and led organisations, designed to provide leadership in addressing national skills and training needs. They have been established to supply industry with a strong and strategic voice within the VET sector as part of broader government-led skills reform.

JSC activities including workforce and Training Package projects relevant to Public Sector industries are listed below.

Future Skills Organisation (FSO): FSO has a range of Projects underway which can be accessed using the links below:

Public Skills Australia (PSA): Access PSA’s current projects via the links below.

BuildSkills Australia (BSA): BuildSkills is conducting both Training Product and Research Projects which can be accessed using the links below:

Water industry stakeholders should reach out to George Wall for any specific water sector issues.