Changes in the way we are expected to work, how industry and businesses operate and the stronger desire for people to connect in communities calls for a new approach to skilling. Victorians should expect to access education and training after school that works in a coherent way to build their capability for success in work and life. Vocational education and training has too often been narrowly prescribed and has struggled to prepare people for future success.
The Victorian Skills Authority (VSA) has that role of planning for skills for the future and success – for Victorians and Victorian industry and communities. The authority will work across the education and training spectrum, with industry, regions and communities to identify those skills for the future and define the change to approaches to skilling, especially within vocational education and training.
New arrangements for skills in Victoria include the Higher Education and Skills Group, as the steward of post-secondary education and training in Victoria; the VSA, which brings a structured approach to setting priorities for skills; and the Office of TAFE Coordination and Delivery, creating a TAFE network which can deliver against priority skills, including those critical for economic growth.
The VSA is the focal point for evidence-based skills planning and we will work across Government as the authoritative voice on skills issues. We aim to be the centre for evidence and insights on skills in demand for Victoria. We will establish platforms to make skills data and other information available to support decision making by industry, regional bodies, education providers and students.
The VSA is setting itself up to be the point of collaboration, particularly through its engagement processes. We aim to engage openly and connect with all stakeholders. The expertise of TAFEs and other providers needs to be harnessed, alongside industry advice. Stronger connections need to be formed between adult community, vocational and higher education providers to assist students on the best path to success.
Inclusion is key to our work, bringing wider community perspectives into planning and empowering students in preparing for their future.
We respect and honour Victoria’s First Peoples and their traditions, and we will work with aboriginal communities in support of self-determination. The Advisory Board to the VSA will guide our work. It brings together a broad perspective on skills and workforce needs and working together we plan to set new directions for skilling.
Our people are ready to embark on this new approach. Jointly, we commit to act with integrity and bring integrity to skills planning and delivery driven by the common good and benefit to Victoria.
We look forward to working with you to harness the collective knowledge and efforts of employers, providers, students and communities to improve skilling and employment outcomes for Victoria.
Craig Robertson
Chief Executive Officer
Victorian Skills Authority
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