Welcome to National Skills Week

Minister’s Message

The Hon Karen Andrews MP
Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills

Showcasing Real Skills for Real Careers

National Skills Week is the time for our vocational education and training sector to shine. It’s a time for us to reflect on the fantastic outcomes a VET qualification or apprenticeship can lead to, and the many career pathways that it can open. It’s a time to showcase the best of VET.

In November last year, I launched the VET Information Strategy at the Australian Training Awards as we commenced a massive push to raise the status of VET. It offers a first-stop information source, consistent key messaging and a unifying tagline – real skills for real careers.

I am delighted National Skills Week has adopted real skills for real careers as this year’s theme, because it reinforces the important central message for Australia’s VET sector – we offer the pathway to gain the real skills that lead to real careers.

Australia, unfortunately, has developed a culture where families and schools often look to encourage students down the university path as a first choice, overlooking the fact that VET can lead to an equally successful and satisfying career.

You only need look at our wonderful Australian VET Alumni, who proudly promote their journey through VET to highlight just what can be gained by following in their footsteps toward a VET qualification.

Members of our Alumni volunteer their time to attend public presentations at schools, conferences or community activities to spread the word. They are also active online through social media, videos and blogs, all of which are accessible through myskills.gov.au.

They are the face of real skills for real careers because they have experienced the journey and we can all learn from them.

National Skills Week gives us all a platform to promote the positive stories of the VET sector and to share the value of a VET pathway, not just for an individual but for the whole community.

There are many ways you can support the promotion of VET through National Skills Week and all year round with plenty of handy hints, suggestions and resources available through myskills.gov.au.

I encourage you all to celebrate VET through National Skills Week and get on board to promote real skills for real careers.

Kind Regards,

The Hon Karen Andrews MP

Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills

National Skills Week is the focal point for the promotion of Australia’s Vocational Education and Training sector (VET). Each year the week continues to celebrate and inform students and the wider public of the diversity and career pathways available through VET. The week communicates the emerging trends and new growth drivers connecting skills training with job outcomes.

Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, The Hon Karen Andrews launched Real Skills for Real Careers, to champion the benefits of VET and Australian Apprenticeships.

Minister Andrews said Real Skills for Real Careers would feature people sharing their personal VET success stories in videos, podcasts, brochures, posters and across social media.

“For too long, perceptions surrounding VET have been out of step with reality. Many parents are still inclined to encourage their children to go to university after leaving schools, rather than consider a VET career pathways. others are convinced that VET is only for traditional trades like plumbing and carpentry. We need to dispel those myths.”

“The fact is that VET qualifications lead to successful, meaningful, professional careers with great salaries and outstanding careers prospects.”

Minister Andrews unveiled the first video, starring VET Alumni and Australian Apprenticeships Ambassadors talking passionately and honestly about their experiences. To find out more about the initiative visit www.myskills.gov.au.

National Skills Week 2018 will extend the message by adopting Real Skills for Real Careers as the theme for 2018.

Keep an eye on National Skills Week and SkillsOne social media accounts and stay up to date by signing up to our newsletter to receive the latest information on upcoming plans for 2018!

National Skills Week is supported by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.