Billions in budget for skills and training

NSW will benefit from a $2.6 billion recurrent investment to futureproof the workforce and boost skills training as part of the 2021-22 NSW Budget.

Initiatives to upskill workers and improve employment outcomes, including fee-free training, better pathways from high schools to the workforce, piloting a new model for skills training and investing in a dedicated careers service will form a key focus of this year’s budget.

Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the NSW Government’s unprecedented investment in skills training played a pivotal role in the State’s strong and rapid recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“NSW has led the nation in the take-up of free training during the pandemic, and more than 70,000 students have accessed free training under the NSW Government’s Skilling for Recovery program, delivered alongside the Commonwealth’s JobTrainer package,” Mr Lee said.

“Now as the NSW economic recovery gathers pace, we are investing in new and innovative training to ensure we are ready for the jobs of the future.”

Mr Lee said the 2021-22 Budget contains an initial $24.6 million to begin implementing reforms recommended in the Gonski Shergold Review of the NSW VET sector.

“The NSW Government is investing in the future of skills training with an initial $13.2 million commitment to developing Institutes of Applied Technology, an integrated education model where TAFE, university and industry work together to prepare students for the jobs of the future,” he said.

“We are continuing to ensure our world class training providers are skilling the State’s workforce to bolster the economic recovery through a multi-billion-dollar investment in TAFE NSW and our high-quality private training market.”

“TAFE NSW will continue to play a vital role in our training system thanks to a $2 billion investment to secure its future as the State’s comprehensive public provider of high-quality, accessible training right across NSW.” 

“This Budget means the NSW Government can continue to deliver a highly skilled and adaptable workforce that contributes to the State’s prosperity and productivity.”

Budget highlights include:

• Continued investment of $318.6 million over two years for training under the NSW Skilling for Recovery JobTrainer program;
• $19 million for information and communication technology and other assets at TAFE campuses across the State;
• $13.2 million to establish pilot sites for Institutes of Applied Technology at Meadowbank and Kingswood;
• $11.4 million to pilot Careers NSW, a dedicated careers support service;
• $11.4 million to complete or continue construction of Connected Learning Centres in Bateman’s Bay, Cobar, Jindabyne, Hay, Tomaree, Nambucca Heads and Byron Bay;
• $5.9 million for 16 TAFE trades training facilities across the State including in Broken Hill, Kingscliff, Moruya and Western Sydney;
• $5.2 million for an Educational Pathways Pilot Program to improve education and career outcomes for high school students.