The recent Skills for Victoria’s Growing Economy (Macklin Review) was unequivocal: building and sustaining effective collaboration and stronger connections between the education and training sector, industry and the wider community of support services is critical to Victoria’s future success.
One of the key recommendations of this review, and the mechanism to drive collaboration, was the establishment of the VSA.
The VSA brings together the key stakeholders of the skills sector – industry, employers, providers, unions, communities and learners – to provide skills-led solutions, drive reform and work together to improve the skills and employment outcomes.
The VSA uses a combination of direct engagement with stakeholders on specific issues and will, from 2023, rollout a range of innovative approaches to solve critical skilling issues through a new collaborative approach that brings the key players together to develop and trial solutions. Options to embed successful trials in ongoing funding will be explored.
The Department of Education and Training’s Higher Education and Skills group, the VSA and OTCD forms a three-part governance structure for the post-secondary skills system. The capabilities of each will be brought together to roll out solutions.
Located within the Higher Education and Skills group is the Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Division.
Guided by the Future of Adult Community Education in Victoria 2020-25 Ministerial Statement, ACFE is delivering excellence and reducing the impact of disadvantage for vulnerable Victorians.
Victoria’s vocational and higher education sectors also operate within national arrangements. Many of the actions in this plan will require close liaison with the federal government to represent the skills needs of Victoria.
The Government’s investment and reform agenda is ensuring the skills system aligns with the needs of learners, employers and industry; that providers can deliver high-quality training in the right courses to the right learners; and that national settings represent a good deal for Victorians.
The VSA is also working to better support the immediate workforce challenges of local employers through Skills and Job Centres, local advice and support to connect employers with local training delivery and Regional Taskforces that are leading the identification and implementation of local solutions to skills and labour challenges.
All Victorians – including those who are vulnerable, disengaged or disadvantaged – should have access to the training they need to find a good, secure job and a decent way of life.
The Victorian Skills Plan
Updated