Priority 1

Delivering skills inclusively to provide all Canberrans a foundation for lifelong learning

Inclusive skills development is critical to maximising workforce participation, and supporting all Canberrans to engage in lifelong learning to share in our prosperity.

Our skills system must provide accessible, relevant and high-quality training so people entering the labour market for the first time, looking to upskill or seeking a new career, can achieve their learning goals and career aspirations.

Skills development starts in our schools. Our curriculum must support children and young people to develop foundation skills and capabilities, deep knowledge and a love of learning. Post-school, we need to ensure our school leavers are informed and supported to navigate a range of attractive learning pathways to prepare for the jobs of today and tomorrow. As people move through their careers and the world of work continues to change, we must also provide access to relevant, flexible and accessible opportunities for reskilling and upskilling.

The ACT's inclusive skills system leverages our diversity and workforce capacity. We want to ensure that people with disabilities and diverse backgrounds, women and carers, older Canberrans and those who have been disconnected from employment, have the opportunity to participate in work to their full potential. Making skills and training affordable, accessible and supportive, will ensure all Canberrans have the tools to join, re-enter or stay connected to the workforce.

The Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) is deeply embedded in our ACT community and is the cornerstone of our local skills and training system. At the heart of its mission is a commitment to inclusion for all members of our community. CIT delivers high-quality training with a focus on empowering people to realise their potential and supporting Canberrans who are facing disadvantage.

How we are delivering

• We will continue to subsidise training aligned with local skills needs to provide access for people from all backgrounds. Since 2020, this has included over 3,700 free training places delivered through the JobTrainer initiative, together with the Australian Government.
• We are committed to providing CIT with at least 75 per cent of government funding for vocational education and training. This enables CIT to provide a range of accessible training options and wraparound services for Canberrans who otherwise experience barriers to education, training and employment.
• We will continue to support young people to combine training with their core education, through vocational education and training programs in ACT high schools and colleges, and Australian School-based Apprenticeships.
• We will work with the National Careers Institute to enhance access to careers information and streamline engagement with the skills system, including Australian Apprenticeships.
• We will work with employment services providers to design accessible and tailored training programs to support jobseekers into employment.
• We will continue to invest in foundation skills and other training programs to re-connect people with work, through initiatives like the Adult Community Education Grants program.
• We will review our funding model to ensure training subsidies, loadings, additional support funding and fee concessions enable participation for people experiencing financial hardship and support learners to complete their qualification.

ACT Government infrastructure projects supporting inclusive apprenticeships

The ACT Government is delivering a $6.6 billion infrastructure pipeline of major projects to meet our city’s needs today and in the future.

We set dedicated targets for apprentice employment on each major infrastructure project.

• Raising London Circuit and light rail Stage 2A will work towards a minimum 10 per cent of labour spend on employing and supporting apprentices and trainees, with a particular focus on supporting women in trades and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander apprentices.
• The Canberra Hospital Expansion project is working towards a 30 per cent ratio of apprentices, trainees and cadets across its total workforce. It is also targeting a spend of 10 per cent of total subcontracted trades budget on the employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• The construction of CIT Woden will have minimum requirements for the employment of women in construction roles, as well as targets for engaging and employing apprentices and trainees, specifically from CIT. This includes ensuring a minimum of 10 per cent of work on the project is undertaken by apprentices and trainees.