The success of the Victorian economy and its people relies on an understanding of the skills needed now and in the future. The Victorian Skills Authority (VSA) provides evidence-based planning and solutions to meet current and future skills needs of Victoria.
Established in 2021, we are an administrative office led by a chief executive officer (CEO) and supported by an advisory board of key stakeholders. We report directly to the Minister for Skills and Training and work closely with the Office of TAFE Coordination and Delivery (OTCD) and the Skills and TAFE Group within the Victorian Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR).
We work with industry, employers, unions, TAFEs and education and training providers to help students and communities access the skills they need to find meaningful employment in rewarding careers. We also help Victorian employers find workers with the skills they need to sustain and grow their businesses.
The role of the Victorian Skills Authority
Our role is to:
- gather and analyse industry data
- identify where there are current and emerging skills shortages in Victoria’s workforce
- work with stakeholders to develop strategies to fill these gaps
- plan for emerging skills needs and workforce areas where there are skills shortages
- identify opportunities for innovation in skills development and delivery
- equip our future workforce with skills and knowledge to accelerate Victoria‘s transition to a clean economy
- promote pathways from training into work and provide support services
- address training market opportunities and barriers
- drive innovation and quality in vocational education and training
- support Victorian employers and communities to find workers with the skills they need
- drive collaboration across education and training sectors
- help ensure the skills and training system is easy to navigate
- strengthen links between industry needs, training delivery and student attraction and outcomes
- celebrate success through our awards programs.
Our services and products
We deliver a range of services and products including the following:
- The annual Victorian Skills Plan(opens in a new window) provides a skills roadmap to meet our workforce needs over the next few years.
- The Employment Projections Dashboard(opens in a new window) provides up-to-date information on jobs that are in-demand to assist government and industry with forward planning.
- The State of the Victorian Labour Market Report(opens in a new window) provides detailed, in-depth analysis of labour market trends and challenges in Victoria, to identify areas requiring an education and training response.
- Our annual Student Satisfaction Survey and Employer Satisfaction Survey track the performance and outcomes of government-funded vocational education and training (VET) in Victoria, to help raise the quality of VET in Victoria.
- The Victorian Skills Gateway(opens in a new window) website and coursefinder provides information on more than 400 Skills First and Free TAFE courses, along with Victorian-specific case studies and information on in-demand careers, learning pathways and more. A range of student resources are also available.
- Skills and Jobs Centres are located at TAFEs and dual-sector universities in Victoria and provide free, qualified advice on starting out in the workforce, training options and courses, career planning, apprenticeships, traineeships and more.
- The TAFE and Training Line provides free phone and email support about TAFE and training courses, qualifications and training providers.
- The annual Victorian Training Awards and Learn Local Awards, both managed by the VSA, recognise and reward excellence in vocational and community education and training.
- The Victorian Digital Skills Compact, which is a shared commitment between the Victorian Government, industry and training providers to make Victoria the most inclusive, digitally enabled and future-ready workforce in Australia.
- Industry projects, to help TAFEs, the broader training sector and communities find skills solutions.
- Accredited VET courses, which support Victorian industry and community needs where there are no existing training package products available.
- Victorian training package purchasing guides, which provide information on nominal hour allocations for units of competency and maximum hour allocations for qualifications within training packages.
- Our VET workforce resources support the VET workforce to strengthen capability through research and learning opportunities.
How we work
Our work is underpinned by the following:
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