National Skills Week highlights vocational education and training in Victoria

National Skills Week highlights the important role vocational education and training (VET) plays in helping Victorians build skills, pursue rewarding careers and meet the needs of a changing economy.

To mark the week, the 2026 National Skills Week Victorian launch was held at Kangan Institute’s Automotive Centre of Excellence.

National Skills Week promotes the value of VET, apprenticeships and practical career pathways. This year's theme of 'Life-changing' encourages people to explore the range of pathways available through skills and training, and recognises the role these pathways play in supporting future career opportunities.

This theme is particularly relevant in Victoria, where more than 320,000 people are currently enrolled in VET. Whether leaving school, changing careers, returning to study or building new skills, VET can provide practical and accessible pathways into employment.

Victoria is expected to add 1.5 million new workers to its workforce over the next decade, requiring a skills system that is responsive to industry and able to adapt to economic and technological change. Through the Victorian Skills Plan, the Victorian Skills Authority (VSA) works with employers, unions, industry and training providers to identify workforce needs and support planning across priority sectors including construction, health care and social assistance, digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, agriculture and the clean economy.

The week also highlights the importance of training for emerging industries and new technologies. At Kangan Institute’s Automotive Centre of Excellence, training is helping prepare workers for the future of transport, including electric vehicles and fuel alternatives. Broader investment in skills is also supporting areas such as renewable energy, digital capability and artificial intelligence, helping ensure Victoria’s training system remains aligned with the jobs of the future.

National Skills Week is an important reminder that VET creates opportunities at every stage of life while helping build the skilled workforce Victoria needs

Read more Victorian Skills Authority news.