People across NSW are being encouraged to explore and celebrate everything vocational education and training offers during National Skills Week, which starts on Monday 21 August. 

The Skills Week theme, 'What are you looking for?', highlights the exciting education and career opportunities offered through Vocational Education and Training (VET) pathways. 

NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said Skills Week aimed to overturn out-of-date perceptions about the opportunities vocational education offered.  

“Our job market is changing rapidly, and the vocational education sector has a key role to play in future-proofing existing and emerging industries,” Mr Dizdar said. 

“Vocational education will continue to support the traditional trades but is also crucial for new and emerging industries. For example, our clean energy future will provide terrific jobs based on many of our current trades.” 

Mr Dizdar said the line between a university, or a vocational education and training pathway was increasingly being blurred. 

“Vocational education and training sits alongside university as an equal partner in the tertiary education sector and the future lies in increased collaboration between these two,” he said. 

“The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.” 

He said Skills Week was also an important time to highlight the work done in opening young people’s eyes to the career opportunities available through the School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs) program in NSW public schools. 

Almost 3000 students are currently undertaking SBATs in NSW public schools, a 9.5 per cent increase in participation that is bucking the national trend. 

According to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research, NSW has almost 113,000 trainees and apprentices in training, which is more than any other state or territory.

Mr Dizdar said in Skills Week it was also important to highlight the incredible support of employers, who mentor students through their training, and the sector’s world-class educators.  

Now in its 13th year, Skills Week celebrates the skills, talents, and career pathways of students, apprentices, trainees, and the wide range of industries they work in.  

National Skills Week takes place from 21-27 August, with a launch at the Parliament of NSW on 22 August.