Six new projects have been approved by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations to commence late 2026/early 2027.
The projects were identified through consultation with industry and VET stakeholders and endorsed as priorities by the Skills Insight Stakeholder Forum. Please make sure your subscription preferences are up to date to receive news and consultation opportunities as work begins.
Animal Technology Skills Review
Animal technology skills are essential to the care of laboratory animals and the research they support. Stakeholder feedback and usage data indicate the Certificate III and Diploma of Animal Technology may no longer meet current workplace needs. This project will undertake a Skills Review to evaluate their ongoing relevance, investigate workforce requirements, and make recommendations on their future structure.
Engineered Wood Products Skills Review*
Australia needs a skilled workforce to support advanced timber manufacturing and help address the national housing shortfall. As the timber processing industry shifts towards engineered wood products (EWPs), the VET system must ensure workers can develop the skills needed to manufacture and work with EWPs. This project will review the skills and training needs associated with EWPs and make recommendations on qualifications, recognition of prior learning (RPL) and training delivery.
Emerging Skills for Conservation and Ecosystem Management
Conservation work is evolving due to cultural, environmental and policy drivers, including the 2050 Net Zero target and the ‘30 by 30’ commitment to protect and conserve 30% of Australia’s land and marine areas by 2030. This project will map how skills requirements are changing and provide evidence to inform future training, workforce planning and policy decisions.
Implementation support for Vet Nursing Training
This project will deliver targeted support for RTOs and workplaces implementing updated veterinary nursing training products, which were developed under qualification reform. The project will identify common delivery pain points and provide practical support sessions and resources to streamline processes and support consistent, high-quality delivery.
Specialist Skills for Glass and Glazing*
The Certificate II and Certificate III in Glass and Glazing will be revised to include emerging specialised skills across advanced manufacturing, processing, and specialised installation sectors. Significant structural changes in the industry, including the loss of domestic glass manufacturing capability, has meant skills requirements are changing. The project will assess the ongoing relevance, structure, and suitability of these qualifications, including investigating factors behind the ongoing lack of national enrolments in the Certificate II.
Textile Mechanic Skills Pathway Review*
This project will investigate the training pathway and supply barriers impacting textile mechanics within Australia’s Textiles, Clothing and Footwear sector. The relevant qualification currently has no active RTO delivery despite there being a critical shortage of textile mechanics, with only a small number operating in each state and many nearing retirement. This project will evaluate current workforce demand, explore systemic constraints to training delivery, and identify viable delivery models to secure this critical specialist capability.
*These projects will be managed with the support of ForestWorks, FurnishingWorks and TextileWorks, as part of our collaborative partnership.