MEDIA RELEASE: Monday 19th August
Issued by The Capital Group on behalf of National Skills Week 2024
NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, The Hon. Steve Whan to launch National Skills Week 2024
Vocational Education and Training (VET) is a game-changer for people’s lives
Monday 19 August 2024 – NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Hon. Steve Whan MP will launch the start of National Skills Week 2024 in New South Wales in association with Business Sydney.
What: Launch of National Skills Week
When: Wednesday 21 August, 12pm
Where: Business Sydney Headquarters
Level 6/8 Chifley Square, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Recent Skills announcements in NSW have included:
- The NSW Government is investing $252.2 million to employ an additional 1300 apprentices and trainees in the local government sector across the state, the largest state government investment in directly hiring new apprentices in recent memory. This investment will train up the next generation of skilled labour while keeping jobs within local councils, reversing the trend of councils outsourcing jobs to contractors.
- The NSW Government is helping futureproof the State’s farming industry by extending the AgSkilled Program focused on upskilling the State’s agricultural workforce. AgSkilled is an industry-led training program designed to upskill and better prepare the agricultural workforce for fast-moving changes driven by innovation, research, and technology.
- NSW’s first Hydrogen Centre of Excellence will train thousands of plumbers and gas fitters and ensure NSW has a pipeline of multi-skilled workers for the hydrogen industry. Plumbers and gas fitters are some of the key jobs that will need new skills and training to support the shift to renewable energy. Additionally, there is a shortage of plumbers in NSW and across Australia. The $25 million investment will deliver a practical training centre capable of training and upskilling 8250 plumbers and gas fitters in its first five years of operation.
National Skills Week Chair, Brian Wexham, emphasises the importance of changing the perception of VET in Australia to highlight its benefits and address skill shortages effectively:
“Choosing Vocational Education and Skills Training can be the ultimate game-changer in a person’s career and life—igniting paths to personal and professional success and giving them the competitive edge with skills and confidence to thrive.”
“By promoting future careers, highlighting skills shortages, and identifying emerging trends in Australia and the global economy, VET can deliver the skills needed in the country to boost Australia’s workforce in the coming years.”
“Apprenticeships are a cornerstone of the VET sector, and a high-quality apprenticeship pathway will continue to be critical to ensuring that Australia is able to respond to emerging skills needs and increasingly dynamic labour markets.”
Minister Whan said:
“It’s National Skills Week, and the theme this year is game changer, and that’s what it means. It’s a game changer for people’s lives to get the skills that we can teach them.
“The NSW government is on board with a 1000 apprenticeships and trainees within our organisations and 1300 more in local government. The training we offer through our TAFEs and RTOs is absolutely vital.
“We are making changes over the coming couple of years to make sure it is fit for purpose and able to provide our communities and our businesses with the skills we need to overcome the housing shortages and make sure we have the workforce to prosper in the future.”
TAFE NSW Managing Director Stephen Brady said:
“Vocational education is for every Australian, whether they’re beginning their career, taking it to the next level, or changing careers.”
“Learners in regional, remote, and urban areas – across all levels of schooling and job experience – benefit greatly from the many education, training, and industry connection opportunities offered by registered training providers like TAFE NSW. We can be a career game changer for everyone from secondary school students learning a trade though to learners completing a bachelor’s degree and business owners needing to upskill for industry currency.
“Our sector is working together to address the skills needs of trades, professions, and businesses of today and tomorrow. We are striving to build pipelines of well-equipped apprentices and other workers across the country in critical priority areas like renewable energy, construction, and care services. Flexible course delivery initiatives like online classes, block release, and virtual reality training are making high quality training accessible anytime, anywhere. Vocational education really does pave the way to success for our regional communities, industries, and the economy.”
“Our annual virtual TAFE NSW Open Day is taking place during National Skills Week on 22 August, from 9 am to 4 pm. Attendees can explore 12 webinars and other on-demand content, take a virtual campus tour, book one-on-one meetings with teachers, or join drop-in sessions to gather information they need to support their lifelong learning goals.”
National Skills Week from 19-25 August, will this year encourage all Australians to discover how Vocational Education and Training (VET) can be the ultimate game-changer in their own or their families’ careers and lives as well as highlight the game-changing impact skills has on Australia’s future and economy. Hence why this year’s theme is VET – It’s a Game-Changer!
Whether you’re a high school leaver, looking for inspiration of what courses to study to lead you on an exciting and rewarding career pathway, you’re a parent looking to guide your child, you’re a worker looking to upskill, re-skill or even switch careers and pursue a new passion, National Skills Week is designed to give you the tools, inspiration and information you need to take control of your future. Learn about practical, real-world skills that you can apply immediately in the workforce, ensuring you are job-ready from the jobs of today and for the future.
The week will highlight the significant contributions of women in trades, the importance of Indigenous workforce participation, and the need for accessibility in remote areas. It will also highlight the most in-demand, highest growth industry sectors and sub-sectors such as manufacturing and digital skills as well as address skills shortages across a myriad of sectors.
NSW-based VET success stories available for interviews:
Bridie Searle, Newcastle, NSW Trainee of the Year 2023
Current Role: Project Supervisor, Thales Australia
Qualifications: Certificate IV in Project Management Practice
RTO: Australian College of Commerce & Management
Employer: Thales Australia Limited
In 2022, Bridie had never been on a ship. Today, Bridie is responsible for managing million-dollar maritime projects with Thales Australia Limited in the Above Water Systems business, something made possible through her vocational pathway.
After securing a traineeship, Bridie began her Certificate IV in Project Management Practice at the Australian College of Commerce & Management. “I’ve always been a hands-on learner,” she says. “The balance of theory and practical work offers an unmatched training program – it was pivotal to my success.”
Guidance from her colleagues and trainers went a long way, too. “I’m extremely lucky to be working alongside men and women with upwards of 40 years’ experience,” says Bridie. “The skills they bring to the table are unparalleled and they supported me immensely.”
She earned even more respect due to the pace with which she’s excelled in her traineeship. Bridie’s Training and Capability Manager describes Bridie as the “most sought-after Project Superintendent within our company” and a next-generation leader.
Currently, Bridie’s day-to-day role could see her working on Destroyers, guided missiles or being a wharf and crane co-ordinator. “It’s been fantastic, and I’ve picked up so many skills that are transferable across multiple roles and industries,” says Bridie.