Indigenous Employment and Skills Strategies in Australia

Foreword
Acknowledgements
Reader's Guide
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Executive Summary
	Local leadership matters
	A flexible and customised training system can foster more participation
	Targeting disadvantaged groups can improve labour market participation
Assessment and Recommendations
	The Skilling Australians Fund can secure better employment outcomes provided that employers take a leadership role in steering design and delivery
	Strengthen local leadership networks to generate stronger apprenticeship outcomes
	Encourage vocational education and training providers to conduct more outreach with local employers and industry experts
	Look at opportunities for City Deals to enable policy innovation within the skills training and apprenticeship system
	Ensure multidisciplinary pathways and flexible training arrangements within the VET system
	Recognise the importance of mentoring and support for apprentices to complete their training
	Consider setting social procurement targets to have a binding commitment from employers on skills training
	Provide more customised and targeted support to SMEs to offer apprenticeship opportunities
	Align training offers and delivery with the demands of emerging and growing industries
Chapter 1.  Recent labour market and skills trends at the regional level in Australia
	Recent economic trends
	Labour market trends
		Unemployment rates
		Regional differences
		Employment trends and projections by industry
		Brief overview of state labour market conditions
			New South Wales (NSW)
			Victoria (VIC)
			Queensland (QLD)
			South Australia (SA)
			Western Australia (WA)
			Tasmania (TAS)
			Northern Territory (NT)
			Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
	Skill shortages and recruitment difficulties
		International evidence
		Evidence from OECD Skills for Jobs database
		Evidence from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) data
		Regional differences
	References
Chapter 2.  The evolving role of vocational education and training at the national and local level
	Education attainment in Australia
		Impact of quality vocational education and training (VET) system
	Overview of the Australian VET system
		National level
			Council of Australian Governments (COAG)
			Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)
		State/territory and local levels
			New South Wales (NSW)
			Tasmania
			Queensland
	The evolving role of Apprenticeships
	Notes
	References
Chapter 3.  OECD Skills Survey of Australian Employers
	OECD survey of Australian employers regarding skills and apprenticeships
		Overview and characteristics of the respondents
		Employers' perspectives on skills demand and apprenticeships
Chapter 4.  Taking a sector-based approach to workplace training – Sydney Metro Case Study
	Background
	Key employment and skills challenges
		Skill shortages in the region
		Competing projects
		High proportion of low-skilled workers
		New technologies
		Low training uptake
		Ageing workforce
		Lack of diversity
		Unemployment
	The development of a Sydney Metro workforce development strategy
		Using public procurement to deliver skills training
		Development of partnerships through an advisory group
		Workforce development programmes introduced by Sydney Metro
			Sydney Metro Industry Curriculum Program
			Sydney Metro Upskilling Program
			Sydney Metro Apprenticeship Program
			Pre-Employment Program
			Infrastructure Skills Centres
	Program outcomes
	Lessons learned
		Challenges faced during implementation
			Establishing partnerships
			Setting ambitious but feasible targets
		Drivers of success
			Collaborative approach
			Leadership from the client
			Contractual obligations backed by flagship initiatives
	Note
	References
Chapter 5.  Moving a local economy to higher value added skills – STEMship Case Study
	Background
		Skills for a knowledge economy
		Challenges within the current VET system
			Need for multi-disciplinary approach
	Programme approach
	Programme Outcomes
	Lessons learned
		Drivers of success
			Local leadership through RDA Hunter
			Partnership with industry
		Implementation challenges
			Current VET funding and delivery models
	References
Chapter 6.  Targeting disadvantaged youth – Cowboys: Dream, Believe, Achieve Case Study
	Background
		Unemployment and skills gaps affect disadvantaged job seekers
		Education and training challenges within the current VET system
	Programme approach
		Intensive mentoring
		Individually tailored training
	Programme outcomes
	Lessons learned
		Challenges
		Drivers of success
			Cowboys brand and community leadership
			Collaboration with industry and community organisations
	References
Chapter 7.  Embedding skills training in economic development – Collective Education in Tasmania Case Study
	Background
		Tasmania’s recent economic and labour market performance
		Challenges within the current education system
			Student attainment
			Student retention
			Participation in education and work
		Recent direction and areas of education reform in Tasmania
			Education Bill 2016
			Extending government high schools
			Years 11 and 12 curriculum website
			My Education initiative
	Programme approach
		Braving a ‘systems change’ approach
			The Collective Ed vision
		Changing the game from deep foundations
			Real Futures Generation (RFG) – Tasmania, 2011-2015
			RFG value in focus: Collaborating with Tasmanian childcare sectors to connect young Tasmanians with meaningful futures
			High Impact Programs (Tasmania, 2017)
			HIP value in focus: Public sector job creation for young Tasmanians
			MyRoad - Tasmania, August – December 2017
			MyRoad via eBeacon value in focus: Using technology to expanding programme reach.
	Lessons Learned
		Ways to enable systems change thinking and participation
			Leverage credibility to secure financial sustainability
			The right kind of funder matters – look beyond the monetary value
			Nothing can be achieved when goals are framed in a vacuum
			Change is political, it requires commitment to people.
			Leverage the collective commitment – and resist the seduction of quick wins
	References
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