Our Policy Direction for Skills in South Australia
Our Policy Direction for Skills in South Australia sets out a clear response to immediate skills needs and signals how we will support South Australians to engage in education and training and transition into secure, well-paid jobs.
South Australia has partnered with the Australian Government through the National Skills Agreement (NSA) which will provide a $2.29 billion investment in skills for South Australians. This investment will help address the challenges identified and deliver the reforms outlined in the policy.
A policy that positions South Australians at the centre
We spoke to industry, businesses and the community to develop a policy that addresses South Australia’s skills needs for today and for the future.
Vision and ambition
Our focus is to develop highly adaptable skilled people that contribute to a thriving South Australia and are supported by a connected skills system.
An economy that is smart, sustainable, and inclusive.
Through the South Australian Economic Statement, the South Australia government has outlined an ambition of an economy that is smart, sustainable,
and inclusive.
Skilled. Thriving. Connected. responds to that ambition through its vision to develop highly adaptable skilled people that contribute to a thriving South Australia and are supported by a connected skills system.
It outlines a reform agenda to achieve this vision and underscores the importance of partnerships and shared responsibilities for outcomes.
All VET stakeholders have a role to play in improving completion rates and learner outcomes to address skills shortages and ensure value from public investment.
This means doing things differently.
Skilled. Thriving. Connected. will drive changes for learners, providers and industry including:
- a stronger focus on learner wellbeing and completions, rather than only focusing solely on commencements, ensuring we can support more people to gain secure, well-paid jobs
- moving to a managed training system with greater government direction on investment in courses aligned to need
- establishing TAFE SA at the centre of the skills system to support delivery of government priorities and ensure all South Australians have access to a high quality, accessible, and inclusive public provider
- a greater emphasis on ensuring the quality and integrity of training providers and employers
- requiring employers, unions, and industry to actively engage and be embedded in the training system.
Current state
Roles of key agencies
Government agencies responsible for delivering Skilled. Thriving. Connected.
These agencies will work with partners across government, industry and the community to deliver our vision and ambition.
The Skills Commission provides independent, industry-led advice to government on workforce development priorities, provides oversight of the skills system, advises the Minister on the quality and performance on VET and ACE, and promotes career pathways and lifelong learning.
The Skills Commission also regulates the apprenticeship and traineeship system in South Australia in line with the South Australian Skills Act (2008) (the Act) ensuring apprentices and trainees are provided with quality on-job training and supervision including through safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing and safety of apprentices and trainees, and through proactive information, educational initiatives and regulatory compliance activities.
Skills SA is the steward of the funded VET system to drive successful outcomes for people, the economy and community. Skills SA provides policy leadership for the South Australian VET sector, objectively assessing skill needs and managing public investment to maximise skills development.
Skills SA supports training providers to meet industry and learner needs, increase the capability of the VET workforce, including in foundation skills, and drive innovation and continuous improvement. This includes recognising the roles of different providers in the investment approach and system settings.
TAFE SA is South Australia’s largest VET provider – and is the state’s public training provider delivering for the public interest. TAFE SA delivers job-focused training across a range of industries from entry-level certificates to bachelor degrees, at locations across the state.
TAFE SA is on the path to be at the centre of VET delivery to provide high quality VET services that meet economic and community needs and connect learners to work.
Through the provision of access to affordable, quality VET, designed with industry, TAFE SA will ensure all South Australians can participate equitably in new work opportunities and share the benefits of this employment with their families and communities.
TAFE SA works closely with Skills SA and provides leadership across the training system to lift the quality, capability and reputation of VET
The Student Pathways and Careers Division of the Department for Education provides policy direction, programs and support for VET delivered in government schools, ensuring school students engage in quality, industry-endorsed VET as part of the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) that prepares them for the labour market and in-demand careers in South Australia.
Student Pathways and Careers leads the roll out of the Technical Colleges and works with government schools to ensure students, parents and carers can make informed decisions about post-school pathways, knowing that VET is a valued option that leads to a rewarding career.
The CITB is a whole-of-industry led organisation that provides support to attract, train and retain South Australian building and construction workers by providing leadership in training and skills development.
The CITB promotes and supports careers in building and construction through providing more than $20 million in financial support each year for the provision of funded industry training programs.
Delivery
The 5-year NSA provides a $2.29 billion investment in skills for South Australians.
The National Skills Agreement (NSA) reflects a commitment by the Commonwealth Government, and state and territory governments to ensure that no Australian is left behind or held back as the economy transitions and adapts to structural change, including by providing opportunities for life-long learning and foundation skills development.
The NSA includes flexible funding to support state and territory skills sectors with capacity to deliver skills for critical and emerging industries.
Skilled. Thriving. Connected. informs and supports NSA implementation in South Australia
Measuring success
Success is possible when we work together
Skilled. Thriving. Connected. sets bold population outcomes that will require collaborative effort from all stakeholders and interconnected service systems.
We will remain on track by working towards achieving the outcomes aligned to the three key elements: skilled people, thriving South Australia and a connected skills system.
Progress towards achieving the outcomes in Skilled. Thriving. Connected. will be monitored by Skills SA against a range of indicators as outlined below. Skills SA will work with stakeholders to determine targets and measures aligned
to the indicators.
A strong partnership between government, industry, community, learners, and training providers will enable the impact.
Population outcomes
South Australians have the skills they need to engage in valued work and the community.
This includes:
- increased skills capability and capacity for work and life
- enhanced labour market outcomes for all South Australians
South Australia has a highly skilled workforce that is adaptable and responsive to current and emerging economic opportunities.
This includes:
- decreased skills shortages
- increased proportion of South Australia's workforce have relevant skills for their job
System outcomes
Learners can make informed choices to engage and progress in skill development with access to tailored support and services.
This includes:
- improved perception of VET as a pathway to achieve successful outcomes
- more learners access training aligned with their interest and aptitudes, and priority areas
Learners achieve successful outcomes with priority skills needed to thrive in the workplace and community.
This includes:
- increased VET completions
- improved employment opportunities and personal benefits
Employers and industry actively engage in the training system to build a skilled and adaptable workforce.
This includes:
- improved perception of VET as a way of meeting skills needs
- increased proportion of employers use VET to build their workforce
Government and industry work in partnership to meet skills needs based on evidence and data.
This includes:
- stronger alignment between VET activity and priority areas
- increased government and industry co-investment to meet skills needs
Learners access quality providers that fulfil their role, innovate and improve training delivery. This includes improved quality of training and service delivery to meet skills needs alongside government priorities.
Innovative and flexible training products and approaches respond to local and emerging skills needs. This includes improved responsiveness of the skills system to local and emerging skills needs.
Connect with Skills SA’s Policy and Strategy team
To learn more about the engagement, strategic or methodology of this publication, reach out to the team.
Contact Skills SA’s Policy and Strategy team via email at skills@sa.gov.au