Overview

• Skills Minister Andrew Giles announced the funding at the National Press Club to expand the supply of vocational teachers, with a focus on electrical and construction instructors and growing Indigenous representation.
• Giles set parity of esteem between vocational training and university as a core objective for this term of government.
• He cited projections that nine in 10 new jobs will require tertiary education, roughly split between VET and higher education, aligning with the national goal for four in five Australians to hold a TAFE qualification or a degree.
• Promoting lifelong learning was named a priority to help workers adapt to changing skill needs, including those driven by generative AI.
• The government highlighted the need to better recognise migrants’ credentials through effective regulation and enforcement so their skills contribute to the workforce.