We test and validate data and gather industry insights through multiple engagement mechanisms - including Industry Advisory Groups, employer forums and roundtables, and through outreach and engagement by VSA staff based in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
This provides industry with opportunities to raise the skills and workforce opportunities and challenges important to them, test and interrogate available data and evidence, and provide us with advice to help inform Victorian Government priorities. Combined, all of these activities provide opportunity for discussion, robust debate and solution finding, where we collectively lead innovation and responses to current and future skills needs.
How we engage
Industry Advisory Groups (IAGs)
Covering Victoria’s key employing industries, the IAGs are tripartite and include representatives from unions and employer peak bodies. IAGs provide us with specialised knowledge and insights into skills and workforce challenges, current and future skills needs and potential solutions. In addition to industry focused IAGs, cross-industry IAGs tackle economy-wide skills challenges in areas like the clean economy, clean economy, digital transformation, self-determination and gender representation.
National engagement
Engagement with national bodies such as industry-based Jobs and Skills Councils, Jobs and Skills Australia and Commonwealth Government departments with responsibilities for skills ensures Victorian perspectives are represented in national skills reform dialogues. Drawing on our IAGs and the technical expertise in the curriculum maintenance manager program, we aim to ensure national training packages, accredited courses and workforce planning reflects the needs of Victoria’s economy.
Skills labs
Future Skills Labs bring diverse stakeholders together to drive solutions and improvements across the skills sector. Hosted by TAFEs, the labs cover areas such as housing and construction in a clean economy, advanced manufacturing and offshore wind.
Industry roundtables and working groups
Time bound activities and groups that bring together industry and technical leaders to focus on specific sector or economy challenges, cross-sector themes, priorities or particular government initiatives.
Stakeholder webinars, briefings and communications
Industry and other stakeholders are kept informed of developments across the Victorian VET sector, and significant developments at a national level, through a series of online and in-person briefings, as well as regular bulletins. These channels also invite feedback and responses.
Senior skills advisors
Our senior skills advisors are based across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, and work with local businesses, TAFEs, RTOs, learn locals and other communities to identify skills trends, challenges and opportunities. They work collaboratively in-place to co-design responses and facilitate local partnerships that inform statewide skills policy and program improvement, and drive innovation and systemic change in Victoria’s skills system.
Employer surveys
The VSA undertakes surveys with employers to gain insights into a number of areas. For example, previous Employer Satisfaction Surveys have provided feedback from Victorian employers of apprentices and trainees about staff who either completed or were completing vocational education.
Skills and Jobs Centres
Located in TAFEs and dual sector universities, Skills and Jobs Centres offer free, independent, professional careers advice to Victorians. They also provide advice on TAFE and post-secondary skills pathways, as well as advice and referral for employment and other supports. Further, the centres provide support to local employers to help them meet their workforce skilling needs. Their local interactions provide feedback to us on skilling issues and trends from the perspective of employers, those enquiring about their skilling options and learners.
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