Our Year in Review 2024-25 provides an overview of Skills Insight’s work and how your contributions are building a body of evidence to drive change for some of Australia’s essential industries. Together in 2024-25, we: Thank you to everyone who has offered their time and expertise to these activities, including our 334 Member organisations. Your…
Skills Insight was honored to attend and share in celebrating the 2025 Australian Training Awards, held on Friday 5 December at the Darwin Convention Centre. Among the finalists were individuals and organisations making significant contributions to industries we support. Dion Sands, a proud descendant of the Gunggandji people, was awarded runner up Aboriginal and Torres Strait…
Jobs and Skills Australia is inviting stakeholders to participate in the 2026 Occupation Shortage List (OSL) Survey. This is your chance to share insights on labour market trends and help ensure the accuracy and relevance of the upcoming OSL. The survey will open on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, and close on Wednesday, 18 March 2026. If…
Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) has released the latest VET National Data Asset (VNDA) report. The results show VET graduates continue to receive immense benefit from their qualifications. Importantly, this includes First Nations people, women and people with disability. VNDA uses a range of data to track changes to students’ income, employment and reliance on income support, both before and after training. This financial year, graduates had a median income uplift of $14,100 and earned a…
Skills Insight welcomes the Queensland Government’s support for 15 schools joining the Agribusiness Gateway to Industry Schools Program. The program connects students and teachers with farmers, agri-tech innovators and industry leaders, providing hands-on experience and clearer pathways to careers in the agricultural industries. Initiatives like this are vital for attracting and retaining the next generation of skilled workers.
The Federal Government introduced seven bills to progress its reform of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. A central part of the reforms is the creation of a National Environment Protection Agency. This independent regulator will focus on ensuring better compliance with and stronger enforcement of the new laws. National Environmental Standards will also be established to provide clear, strong guidelines for protecting the environment. Higher penalties will apply to the most serious breaches of…
The Minister for Education, the Hon. Jason Clare MP introduced legislation to establish the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC). A key objective is to break down silos between VET and university education and expand access for disadvantaged students. ATECs establishment was a headline recommendation from the 2022-23 Australian Universities Accord; a 12-month review of Australia’s higher education system. The Commission is tasked with creating a better and fairer tertiary education system that delivers for students and on…
The Australian Government has announced changes to the employer incentives for priority apprenticeships. The changes will reshape how financial support is distributed across different occupations, with impacts on many of the industries we support. Industries within the identified Key Apprenticeship Program (KAP) will receive additional support, while those not within the identified KAPs may receive reduced levels of support. The government is extending its $5,000 financial incentive for employers who engage apprentices in the KAP sectors of…
Work to review the Certificate II in Rural Operations has recommenced, following a pause while DEWR and Jobs and Skills Councils explored approaches to Qualification Reform. The project will now progress – updating the qualification so it better meets the need of learners, training providers and workplaces and in alignment with the new Training Package Organising Framework (TPOF)…
Recent work to explore the concept of a trade qualification has revealed strong potential to move forward with developing a trade-level Certificate III qualification through a training package project. With the concept phase now finalised ahead of schedule, Skills Insight has submitted a proposal to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) to move to qualification…
Today we celebrate the people, passion, and possibilities that keep Australia growing. Agriculture is not only the heart of our food system – it also drives industries that clothe us, house us and support our daily lives, from fibre and furnishing to food production. It’s a hub of innovation, technology, and skilled careers shaping the…
Researchers from the Australian Catholic University (ACU) and University of Sydney (US) are seeking businesses’ views on how to create ‘good’ quality jobs in Australia that improve worker wellbeing and organisational outcomes. The outcomes of the project will produce two specific toolkits. The first will support and enable employers to create and sustain job quality….
The Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Skills and Training, has announced the finalists for the 2025 Australian Training Awards. Among them are individuals and organisations making significant contributions to industries we support. Finalists include Lewis Italiano from Western Australia, recognised for excellence in cabinet making; Hamish Genrich from Queensland, who is using his Certificate…
On Friday 21 November we celebrate the people, passion, and possibilities that keep Australia growing. Agriculture is not only the heart of our food system—it also drives industries that clothe us, house us and support our daily lives, from fibre and furnishing to food production. It’s a hub of innovation, technology, and skilled careers shaping…
