The Albanese Government’s $442 million Jobs and Skills Councils (JSCs), which are vital to tackling Australia’s critical current and future skills and workforce challenges, have all been formally established.
JSCs are a network of industry-owned and led organisations that will bring together employers and unions to work in partnership with governments and the education and training sectors.
“This shows the government’s ongoing commitment to tripartite leadership to find solutions to the workforce challenges and skills needs currently facing industry sectors across Australia.
“JSCs will help inform and advise both tertiary sectors about the existing and emerging skills needs of our economy.”
Nine of the JSCs are now operational, with the latest five being;
- Energy, Gas and Renewables
- Early Educators, Health and Human Services
- Arts, Personal Services, Retail, Tourism and Hospitality
- Public Safety and Government, and
- Finance, Technology and Business.
The tenth JSC will be Building Construction and Property, operated by BuildSkills Australia, and will be fully operational in coming months. It will work closely with employers and unions to address workforce issues in the building, construction and property sectors.
Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor says, “I’m proud we’ve delivered these vital councils that bring together employers, unions and government to collaborate to develop solutions to our skills challenges.
“The JSCs will ensure we have a collaborative, tripartite skills sector that brings all parties to the table to ensure Australians are supported into decent, secure jobs now and in the years ahead.
“JSCs are crucial in making sure industry has the right skills to support a prosperous and harmonious economy,” he said.
Over the initial months, the JSCs will focus on recruiting staff and establishing their operations to ensure they are best positioned to provide the highest-quality engagement with industry and stakeholders, and on developing future focused workforce plans for their industries.
The new JSCs will address skills challenges such as transforming the economy to achieve net zero emissions, and supporting the care and support sector workforce, which will be key to the delivery of quality care to Australians now and into the future.
They will give a voice to the tech sector, which will underpin the growth of businesses across the nation, as well as supporting those that serve our community such as emergency services.
The tourism, retail, and arts sectors will also be supported as they recover fully from the pandemic, so they can continue their essential and rich roles in building our national fabric and helping drive a strong economy.
For more information on the JSCs and the new industry engagement arrangements, visit dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/industry-engagement-reforms.