National Skills Agreement to support more training courses

23 October 2023

The Territory and Federal Governments have signed a landmark Skills Agreement for the Northern Territory.

Starting from January next year, the five-year National Skills Agreement (NSA) was developed and agreed to by National Cabinet, and replaces the National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development (NASWD).

The National Skills Agreement will provide up to $155 million over five years for the Territory skills and training sector. This is around $80 million more than the current NASWD Special Purpose Payments.

The Agreement includes a range of reforms which expand the Territory’s support to further develop our regional and remote communities, and ensure we have the workforce we need.

The NSA is complementary to the reforms underway in skilled migration and will assist in addressing workforce shortages over the longer term in the NT by providing local training opportunities and support the achievement of a $40 billion economy by 2030.

The NT has historically been a major contributor to VET, currently contributing 82% of funding to the sector, well above the national average of 60%.

The NT has the highest levels of student and employer satisfaction including a satisfaction rate of 90% for all government funded VET graduates, 95% for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates and 84% for NT employers.

Quotes attributed to Chief Minister, Natasha Fyles:

“Through my Governments work at National Cabinet and skills sector, we have advocated for this $155 million skills deal which will help boost our skilled opportunities and will help meet our workforce shortfall in critical sectors.

“We know how important it is for Territory students to have access to learning and training opportunities and courses. As well as business having access to home grown skilled workers.

“The Territory Labor Government continues to have a large investment in skills, with one of the highest ratio of state allocated government funds for VET.”

Quotes attributed to the Minister for Business, Jobs and Training, Paul Kirby:

“The Territory Labor Government has worked with the Federal Government to show our commitment to skilling Territorians and improving our workforce.

“We need to train people now for the jobs of the future so we are ready to capitalise on projects which continue to bolster our economy.

“In the NT, 92% of VET graduates in the NT were employed and/or continued on to further study after completing their training - well above the national average and the highest result in Australia.”

Quotes attributed to Federal Member for Solomon, Luke Gosling OAM MP:

"This National Skills Agreement, combined with our Fee-Free TAFE places, will mean more aged care workers, more child care workers, more hospitality workers, and more Territorians with the skills that they need, but also the skills that our economy needs."

"This investment is on top of $414 million already committed for the delivery of a nationwide total 300,000 Fee-Free TAFE places from 2024."

“This creates more opportunities for young people, for mature age Territorians, for people living with disability, and for regional and remote learners - as well as improving women’s economic participation and Closing the Gap for Aboriginal Territorians.”

Quotes attributed to Charles Darwin University TAFE Deputy Chief Executive Robert Scherwdt:

“As the Northern Territory’s largest training provider, CDU TAFE is committed to working with the government and industry to develop our skilled workforce and be agile in the changing job market.

“The finalising of this agreement comes at a time when CDU TAFE continues to develop its footprint across the Northern Territory with on-country training, growing our presence in all the regions, and more resources dedicated to responding to the needs of regional and remote communities in and around Central Australia.”

Northern Territory Government