This first Victorian Skills Plan is based on rich data and analysis and extensive stakeholder insights. The Victorian Skills Authority Advisory Board will play a role in guiding the implementation of actions from this plan.

In this paper, the authors explore the weaknesses of the current system and propose a new approach, based on international evidence, that can make a difference to opportunities for young Australians.

This report offers a comprehensive review of vocational education and training (VET) in Australia, confirming Australia’s VET system shows growing signs of erosion, fragmentation and dysfunction. It asserts that several high-profile government announcements during the pandemic designed to address skilled labour shortages have not altered the VET system’s worrying trajectory.

Deputy Labor leader, Richard Marles, claimed the Coalition government had overseen a fall of 70,000 apprentices and trainees. However, that fall was driven by a decline in trainees rather than combined trainees and apprentices, which was largely the result of changes made by the previous Labor government to address problems in the traineeship system. Verdict...

Despite the importance of apprenticeships, almost half of young people who commence an apprenticeship will not finish it. This report examines how the mental health and wellbeing of apprentices can be better supported.