Jan 24, 2024
NSW Public Sector ITAB January 2024 Newsletter
In this month's newsletter
- Fostering collaboration in 2024
- GTAN and WTAN forum schedule for 2024
- New report shows VET graduates in demand
- Government receives interim report on NSW VET Review
- Progress towards a National Skills Passport
- National Jobs and Skills Council Update
Fostering collaboration in 2024
Welcome back to a new year full of promise and productivity for our Public Sector industries. Hopefully a rejuvenating break has prepared us all for the opportunities and challenges that present in the year ahead.
This year, the ITAB would like to enhance collaboration with all industry stakeholders to discuss challenges and find solutions to skills and training issues across our sectors. We encourage you to participate in the Public Sector ITAB network’s activities in 2024 and to reach out for advice or support when needed. We are planning for a year of progress and collective success!
Contact Lisa Giammarco at the NSW Public ITAB:
E: Lisa Giammarco or M: 0427 582830
GTAN and WTAN forum schedule for 2024
The Public Sector ITAB has facilitated the Government and Water Trainer and Assessor Network meetings for many years to provide a relaxed forum for stakeholders to meet and share information on skills and training in NSW.
These online sessions include presentations from a range of experts who share experiences, issues and insights into skills and training arrangements in their sectors. Updates on the latest funding initiatives and training package projects are also provided.
Please place these proposed 2024 forum dates in your diary:
- Tuesday 5 March 2024
- Tuesday 21 May 2024
New report shows VET graduates in demand
The 2023 VET student outcomes report shows that vocational education and training (VET) graduates’ employment outcomes continue to improve.
The report offers a comprehensive overview of student outcomes and satisfaction for those who completed nationally recognised VET programs in the previous calendar year. These insights are based on participation in Australia's largest VET student survey, the National Student Outcomes Survey.
When compared with the previous year, two-thirds of students who completed a vocational qualification at certificate I or above had an improved employment outcome, up 2.6 percentage points. In 2023, 79.5% of graduates were employed after training, the highest level seen since the survey was expanded in 2016 to cover all nationally recognised training, not just government funded. This supports the findings by Jobs and Skills Australia that just over 60.0% of total employment growth in 2022 was in occupations where VET qualifications are the primary pathway (Jobs and Skills Australia 2023).
Read the highlights or download the report from the NCVER website.
Government receives interim report on NSW VET Review
The interim findings of the New South Wales Vocational Education and Training (VET) Review have been submitted to the state government. This report, a result of extensive consultation during 2023, was handed over to the government in late December and places a significant emphasis on the role of Technical and Further Education (TAFE).
The review panel has indicated that once finalized, the interim conclusions will be made available to the public. The subsequent phase of the review is now underway, concentrating on the broader VET system, with an anticipated completion date in mid-2024.
Concurrently, the NSW Department of Education will assess a NSW Skills Plan, outlining governmental initiatives tailored to priority industries, specific regions, and prevailing skills requirements.
Progress towards a National Skills Passport
The federal government has initiated the development of a national skills passport, a single digital card designed to consolidate an individual's Vocational Education and Training (VET) and higher education qualifications, micro-credentials, licenses, and workplace experience.
The government recently released a discussion paper that outlines essential aspects of the proposed passport and has commenced a consultation process to refine issues related to design, usability, and privacy.
Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor, confirmed, "We want to make it easier for workers to navigate the economy, transitioning between industries, while ensuring businesses can access the skilled workforce they require to flourish."
The discussion paper envisions a National Skills Passport as a tool which can effectively showcase a person's qualifications across VET and higher education, encouraging continuous education, upskilling, reskilling, and facilitating workforce mobility. Emphasizing the importance of privacy, the paper underscores that the skills passport must safeguard the personal information of users while ensuring the accurate capture and verification of information at an appropriate level.
Feedback submissions are open until 18 February 2024.
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.
The key JSCs affiliated to the Public Sector are:
Public Skills Australia: Visit the updated website to find information PSA Members and Committees and use the links to register your interest or make an enquiry.
BuildSkills Australia: Visit the new website to register your interest in consultation and engagement. George Wall has recently been appointed to the position of National Manager, Water Sector Industry Engagement. Reach out to George for any specific water sector issues.
Future Skills Organisation: Provide feedback on the FSO’s Initial Workforce Plan for Finance, Technology and Business Occupations and read the Impact of generative AI on skills in the workplace report.
