$23 million skills agreement boost for Tasmanian economy

The Australian and Tasmanian governments have signed a Skills Agreement that will inject $23 million into the Tasmanian skills and training sector. The deal will provide over 3,800 Fee-Free TAFE and vocational education and training (VET) places in 2023. The course list will see 350 Fee-Free TAFE places offered in the agriculture sector.

This will help drive enrolments in the agriculture industry, which has been facing skills shortages. TAFE will deliver the majority of the training, with non-TAFE providers delivering training in high demand areas. The agreement also includes funding to improve training facilities and VET data infrastructure in Tasmania. All governments have also agreed to a vision and guiding principles for longer-term VET reform to commence in 2024.

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Quotes Attributable to Brendan O’Connor MP, Minister for Skills and Training

“This agreement is about tackling one of Tasmania’s greatest economic challenges in decades, the lack of skilled workers, in order to build a more robust economy.

“Whether it’s in the care sector, agriculture, hospitality and tourism, construction, technology, or the need for sovereign capability in manufacturing, we need to deliver these skills at a time of acute skills shortages.

“To provide greater opportunity for Tasmanians to have secure and rewarding employment we must be able to skill and reskill our workforce.

“The Albanese Government believes everyone deserves access to training, and this agreement will increase opportunities and workforce participation for groups such as First Nations Australians, young people aged 17-24, people out of work or receiving income support, unpaid carers, women undertaking study in non-traditional fields, people with disability and certain categories of visa holders.

“I’m thrilled to make this joint investment with Tasmania to expand opportunities to Tasmanian students.”

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“This agreement is about tackling one of Tasmania’s greatest economic challenges in decades, the lack of skilled workers, in order to build a more robust economy.

“Whether it’s in the care sector, agriculture, hospitality and tourism, construction, technology, or the need for sovereign capability in manufacturing, we need to deliver these skills at a time of acute skills shortages.

“To provide greater opportunity for Tasmanians to have secure and rewarding employment we must be able to skill and reskill our workforce.

“The Albanese Government believes everyone deserves access to training, and this agreement will increase opportunities and workforce participation for groups such as First Nations Australians, young people aged 17-24, people out of work or receiving income support, unpaid carers, women undertaking study in non-traditional fields, people with disability and certain categories of visa holders.

“I’m thrilled to make this joint investment with Tasmania to expand opportunities to Tasmanian students.”

Quotes attributable to Felix Ellis, Tasmanian Minister for Skills, Training and Workforce Growth:

“This agreement will support thousands of Tasmanians to learn new job-ready skills in key industries.

“We are excited to work with the Commonwealth to continue building Tasmania’s skilled workforce.

“These opportunities come on top of the work we are already doing with TasTAFE to focus more on learners and local skills needs.

“There has never been a better time for Tasmanians to look at building their careers with a VET qualification.”