It was great to have some new faces to bring representation for more communities, with Julie from Hume and Gianfranco from Frankston Mornington Peninsula attending their first meeting.
Key priorities from June STRG to address entrenched challenges that influence young people’s skills and training pathways, included:
- Employment Services Reform announcement and implication for skills and training: Dr Nicole Bieske, BSL’s Director of Research, Policy and Advocacy provided a reflection on the recent announcement, and the important role both employers and the VET system play to strengthen the connection between skills and training system and young job seekers.
- Enhancing earn-while-you-learn models and delivery: The STRG highlighted that strengthening earn-while-you-learn (EWYL) models require a greater investment in employer capabilities and workplace mentorship to improve delivery of EWYL, while ensuring appropriate funding to support learner and workforce outcomes. The STRG noted successful participation requires the learner to have adequate income, social capital, and system knowledge, as ongoing system siloing continues to hinder EWYL models. The STRG also identified an opportunity for lessons from the NYEB’s many EYWL pilots to contribute to ongoing discussions surrounding VET qualifications reform. STRG supported the formalisation of stackable credentials as part of reform effort, however noted the importance of industry support for this approach.
- Strengthening the role VET in schools plays to secure school-to-work transitions: The STRG highlighted the opportunity to increase the status of VET is schools among secondary education staff, and to more closely align outcomes with local workforce needs. The STRG identified that targeted investment in resources, networks and capability building, may these strengthen school to work transitions for young people.