OSCA Maintenance Strategy Available

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has published the OSCA Maintenance Strategy, following public consultation earlier this year to inform the frequency and approach to updating the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA). The OSCA Maintenance Strategy provides a framework to keep OSCA relevant, accurate and aligned with the evolving Australian labour market and stakeholder expectations. The ABS…

Jobs and Skills Councils Collaboration at Developing Northern Australia Conference

Workforce planning is one of the Jobs and Skills Council’s four core functions and includes a commitment to supporting priority cohorts — including First Nations peoples — in line with government expectations and the Closing the Gap priority reforms. From 22 to 24 July, the Developing Northern Australia Conference in Cairns brought together leaders and changemakers to explore how northern development can…

Attraction and Retention Guidance Project

Workforce attraction and retention is a key priority for the industries Skills Insight supports, especially for small businesses in regional, rural and remote Australia. We are consulting with stakeholders as part of this project to develop a web resource to equip employers with tools to improve their attraction and retention strategies. A stakeholder Working Group…

Qualification reform: The transition to a new approach

To assist with the transition to the new VET qualification design approach, the Department of Employment and Workforce Relations (DEWR) has published a series of fact sheets on their Qualification Reform webpage. A revised Training Package Organising Framework (TPOF), including new templates and updated processes, is also available to support the process. Skills Insight is…

Media Release: Skills Insight welcomes new Chief Executive Officer

Skills Insight is pleased to announce the appointment of Dugald Murray as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), following an extensive national recruitment process. Dugald is a values-driven CEO with more than 20 years’ experience in strategic leadership, governance and stakeholder engagement. He has led complex, government-funded and industry-led organisations, with a passion for shaping…

Opportunities for input into Veterinary Nursing Review

Skills Insight has consulted with the veterinary sector to understand their diverse workforce needs and analyse current and future practices in veterinary nursing across a variety of animal species and contexts.  This Skills Review process was undertaken to collect crucial information to inform the revision of training package products so that they better reflect the real-world…

Veterinary Nursing Skills Review Report published

As part of the Veterinary Nursing Review Project, Skills Insight has consulted with the veterinary sector to understand their diverse workforce needs and analyse current and future practices in veterinary nursing across a variety of animal species and contexts.  The skills review was undertaken using a mixed-method approach, which enabled high engagement and participation from…

Window Furnishings & Shade Sails Project moves to Broad Consultation

Help shape the revised qualification, skill set and units by providing feedback. A review of the Certificate III in Blinds, Awnings, Security Screens, and Grilles, and relevant units of competency, is underway to improve their flexibility and relevance to the skill needs of today’s workplaces.  The draft qualification, skill set and units are now available for review and…

Regional employment reported at strongest levels in a decade

Jobs and Skills Australia has reported on labour market performance across Australia’s regions using data from the March 2025 Regional Labour Market Indicator.  The data shows improved outcomes in many areas, particularly in parts of Western Australia and regional Victoria, and also highlights ongoing disparities between stronger and poorer performing regions.  Findings show 91 per…

OSCA Maintenance Strategy available

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is in the process of establishing a maintenance strategy for the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) to facilitate publication of regular, timely updates.  Public consultation was undertaken from 11 March to 4 April 2025 to inform how often the OSCA will be updated and how submissions are prioritised….

Ongoing Qualification Reform work

The Skills Insight team are preparing for the transition of VET qualification design with the new Training Package Organising Framework coming into effect on 1 July 2025. As we work towards this date, the new requirements are being considered as part of all future training package work to streamline the transition process. We have also…

Thanks for sharing your insights on VET workforce needs

Thank you to all stakeholders who have participated in conversations about how to better support VET Workforce attraction and retention in regional, rural and remote Australia.  Insights from early conversations with registered training organisations (RTOs) have been synthesised in an interim report; presenting the challenges and current approaches to recruiting and retaining VET educators in…

Workforce planning in focus at the Developing Northern Australia Conference

Jobs and Skills Councils (JSCs) are proud to support the Developing Northern Australia Conference, which brings together key Northern Australian decision-makers to support the strategic delivery of the Developing Northern Australia Plan.  A group of JSCs will host a workshop and interactive booth to gather insights about workforce challenges to support local industries to shape…

Celebrating the next generation – NAIDOC Week 2025

NAIDOC Week is celebrated across Australia in the first week of July each year, recognising and honouring the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories, and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures…