New Arborist of the Year Award taken home by Katie McMahon

Skills Insight was proud to support the New Arborist of the Year Award competition celebrating fresh talent, skills development and dedication to the arboriculture industry. Organised by Arboriculture Australia, the inaugural award went to Katie McMahon, who competed against other new arborists in events such as knot tying, tree identification, throwline, worksite safety assessment and…

Ongoing Qualification Reform Work 

Australia’s VET qualification design is transitioning to a new approach, with an updated Training Package Organising Framework coming into effect 1 July 2025.  Skills Insight is currently exploring how the new approach can be used to address some of the unique challenges faced by the industry training packages we work with. The new requirements are being considered as…

New Attraction and Retention Guidance Project Underway

From our conversations with stakeholders, we know attracting and retaining a workforce presents unique challenges in regional, rural and remote locations. This project will develop a webpage resource offering practical guidance to small and medium businesses on attracting and retaining employees in regional, rural and remote areas. It will feature information on existing workforce development pathways, along with…

Community-Based Aquaculture Training Tools Being Developed

Aboriginal Sea Company and Skills Insight are working alongside community to develop training tools that are culturally appropriate and tailored to the needs of First Nations learners. Aimed at supporting the growth of First Nations aquaculture enterprises, the project is focused on co-designing tools to support the delivery of existing aquaculture units on Country. A project working…

Register for VET Workforce Brainstorming Sessions

You have the opportunity to help improve understanding about VET workforce challenges in rural, regional and remote Australia, and test potential solutions.  Following initial consultations with a sample of 30 registered training organisations, we are continuing to consult with training providers and industry to investigate barriers and approaches to attracting educators to regional, rural and remote locations. Throughout May we…

Veterinary Nursing Survey

Veterinary nursing techniques are crucial for providing integral animal care and treatment across different species and contexts, requiring a broad range of skills. As part of the Veterinary Nursing Review project, Skills Insight is consulting with the veterinary sector to understand their diverse workforce needs. This includes exploring how they can be better supported by nationally endorsed…

Update: Qualification Reform

Australia’s VET qualification design is transitioning to a new approach, designed to improve quality, reduce complexity and provide opportunities for new and adaptable approaches to qualifications. An updated Training Package Organising Framework is available to view and will come into effect 1 July 2025.  Skills Insight is currently exploring what opportunities the new approach might offer for addressing the unique challenges…

Update: VET Workforce Project

Consultation is underway with training providers and industry to better understand the challenges in attracting and retaining educators in rural, regional and remote Australia and test potential solutions.  Insights from a series of 30 interviews have been collected into a report, which has been submitted to the department alongside a Work Plan proposing next steps.   The report identifies…

New Report Tells the Story Behind Training Demand & Supply 

Skills Insight has produced a report that uncovers the factors impacting engagement with and delivery of formal VET training. The Exploring Training Demand and Supply Report reveals insights from interviews with 224 people across 11 industry sectors with low enrolment qualifications. Thanks to the contributions of stakeholders around the country, the research reveals key variables impacting…

Stakeholder Forum Collaborates on Future JSC Priorities

This month, our Stakeholder Forum, comprising 23 representatives from across the industries we support, met face to face to discuss the priority actions for our future JSC work.  Based on previous feedback and acknowledging the diverse needs of our industries, discussions took place both as a larger Forum and within three breakout groups, each focusing…

Participate in Career Mapping of Agricultural Qualifications

Skills Insight is mapping agricultural and associated occupation qualifications as a key step towards developing a potential agricultural trade apprenticeship, with the aim of supporting the growth of Australia’s agriculture industry. We are looking to consult with agricultural industry bodies, employers, unions, RTOs, First Nations organisations and other interested stakeholders to define and promote agricultural…

Manual Tree Felling Skills to be Supported by Two New Projects

Two new projects are underway to support skills development in manual tree felling with a chainsaw. They follow the 2023-24 Tree Felling Project, which reviewed and updated three units for manual tree felling.  Pathway to tree felling skills project  This project will investigate the need for learners to be equipped with appropriate safety skills before they…

Media Release: Michael Hartman stepping down from Chief Executive Officer role

After careful consideration and discussions with the Board, Michael Hartman has decided to step down from his role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Skills Insight. After 24 years of service as a CEO supporting industry engagement in the VET sector, Michael remains committed to the Jobs and Skills Council program but has decided that…