Key players in vocational education and training (VET) have gained vital insights into the sector at a skills symposium as part of the NSW VET Review.

The symposium was a key milestone of the VET Review, which aims to identify ways to strengthen the system and better support students and workers.

Attending the symposium were peak bodies, government agencies, unions, providers, and industry players.

Steve Whan, Minister for Skills, TAFE, and Tertiary Education said the symposium and VET Review have led to important conversations that will result in industry-led changes to bolster capability and resilience in the skills sector.

“There is not an aspect of our day-to-day lives that isn’t supported by VET. By re-building the sector, we are also transforming communities and upskilling the next generation of tradies, healthcare professionals, and agriculture workers,” Mr Whan said.

The VET Review is a comprehensive examination of the sector in NSW and aims to ensure that all learners across the state have access to high-quality training that meets their requirements, and the needs of employers now and into the future.

The review is being led by Chair Dr. Michele Bruniges. Former Education Minister Verity Firth, currently the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Social Justice and Inclusion at the University of Technology, Sydney), and Jason Ardler, a Yuin man and chair of the National Indigenous Australians Agency’s Indigenous Evaluation Committee, as well as a director of the NAISDA Indigenous performing arts college, are also part of the leadership team. The review is supported by the NSW Department of Education.

Dr Bruniges said the skills symposium represented a mammoth and committed whole-of-industry effort to fortify the VET industry and build a pipeline of skilled workers in our economy.

“A resilient VET system is underpinned by productive and robust engagement across industry, government, and education providers, Dr Bruniges said.

The symposium was a one-day event designed to provide stakeholders with insights into the VET Review, providing a forum for additional student, industry, and provider voices. It marked the end of the review’s second phase.

A final report is due to be delivered in mid-2024.