We’re excited to welcome Emma Hall to Energy Skills Australia as the Project Manager for Big Sister: Advanced Mentoring SA/WA.

Emma is an accomplished project manager and team leader with over a decade of experience in both State and Commonwealth government roles. Her background spans skills planning and policy, organisational development, procurement, IT, and organisational culture. She has successfully delivered sector-wide programs and policies, as well as culture and recruitment initiatives, and workforce development and IT projects across a wide range of sectors.

Emma joins us following a 12-month role with the Clean Energy Council, where she led an industry-driven workforce development project that mapped the skills needs of trade workers across large-scale utility projects including wind, solar, and battery energy storage systems (BESS).

In her new role, Emma will lead the delivery of the Big Sister: Advanced Mentoring SA/WA project, an industry-led initiative designed to support, retain and advance women electrical apprentices in South Australia and Western Australia. This project will play a vital role in driving transformational change across the construction and clean energy sectors, by implementing a targeted access and retention program for women apprentices.

Please join us in welcoming Emma to the team!

The Australian Government has announced plans to develop a national licensing scheme for electrical tradespeople, working closely with states, territories, businesses, and unions.

This reform is expected to boost productivity, ease workforce shortages, and enhance economic competitiveness—particularly in housing construction and clean energy.

Key Benefits of National Licensing:

• Seamless mobility across state and territory borders—no need to reapply or pay additional fees.
• Reduced red tape for businesses and workers.
• Support for housing affordability by addressing workforce shortages.
• Encouraging skilled workers to go where they are needed most.

The Government has committed $900 million to the National Productivity Fund to drive National Competition Policy (NCP) reforms, with modelling from the Productivity Commission estimating economic benefits of up to $10.3 billion from occupational licensing reform.

Energy Skills Australia supports this initiative as a positive step towards a more flexible workforce but emphasises the importance of maintaining the highest safety and competency standards in this high-risk industry

This month PSO released a landmark report, A Bright Future – Growing the First Nations Clean Energy Workforce, which highlights the current landscape and future potential of First Nations participation in the energy sector.

Key Findings:

• 3,300 First Nations people are currently employed in the energy sector – a threefold increase in 15 years.
• 75% work in technician and trade roles, with 50% being qualified electricians.
• 80%+ are employed at skill levels 1–3 (ANZSCO classification).
• 54% live in regional areas.

Representation in Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) is higher than the national average, particularly in NSW, QLD, SA, and TAS.

The report reinforces the vital role First Nations communities can play in Australia’s clean energy future, while highlighting the need for better training, pathways, and industry engagement.

Click to download the report.

On Friday, 21st February, Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) released Opportunity and Productivity: Towards a Tertiary Harmonisation Roadmap, outlining 19 recommendations to better align Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Higher Education.

In the report’s foreword, Commissioners Professor Barney Glover AO and Special Advisor Professor Peter Dawkins AO emphasised that harmonisation is not about merging or integrating the two sectors but rather enhancing collaboration while preserving their unique strengths.

The roadmap proposes a collaborative approach between the Commonwealth, states, territories, industry, and tertiary providers to develop and implement a more connected, efficient, and responsive tertiary system.

For more details, read the full report.

The Tasmanian Government has announced the creation of the Tasmanian Clean Energy Centre of Excellence in partnership with TasTAFE. The new centre of excellence will be located at TasTAFE Burnie campus and aims to boots training and workforce development for the state’s growing renewable energy sector.

The centre will feature:

• A redeveloped energy trades facility to support renewable energy training
• An electrotechnology trainer strategy to enhance industry participation in VET
• A pilot STEM careers hub and awareness program to encourage STEM career pathways
• Strategies to increase training access, particularly for rural, regional, and diverse cohorts
• A 25-room student accommodation facility to support learners from remote areas

This initiative will ensure Tasmanians have the skills and opportunities to contribute to the state’s clean energy future.

The Australian Government has released the final report for the Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System, titled Skills for Tomorrow: Shaping the Future of Australian Apprenticeships.

The review highlights key recommendations and initiatives to ensure the Australian Apprenticeship system supports the evolving needs of industries, apprentices, and employers. To provide clarity, the government has also published a factsheet overview of the report, addressing critical areas such as:

• Women apprentices
• First Nations apprentices
• Regional and remote apprentices
• Culturally and linguistically diverse apprentices
• Apprentices with disability
• Support for employers

Apprentices in new energy sectors will continue to benefit from the $10,000 support payment, ensuring Australia’s clean energy transition is supported by a skilled workforce.

Key Initiatives Announced:

In response to the Strategic Review, the government will establish a new Housing Construction Apprenticeship stream, aimed at addressing the growing demand for skilled workers in the housing sector.

From July 1, 2025, eligible apprentices will receive $10,000 in incentive payments over the duration of their apprenticeship. This payment, on top of wages, will provide greater financial support and encourage participation in the housing construction industry.

For more details on the new Housing Construction Apprenticeship stream click here.

To vie the strategic review and factsheets click below.

Strategic Review
Factsheet

On the 3rd of December, the Australian Government announced the introduction of a new targeted Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). This list is designed to attract skilled migrants who will make a significant contribution to the Australian economy, with a particular focus on sectors such as housing and electrical.

The CSOL will address positions where Australian workers are unable to meet the demand, comprising more than 450 occupations, including those in construction and electrical fields.

The CSOL will be applied to the Core Skills stream of the new Skills in Demand visa, which will replace the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa on 7 December 2024. Additionally, the CSOL will be relevant to the Direct Entry stream of the permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa.

More details about other reforms taking place on 7 December 2024, including the Skills in Demand visa and the National Innovation visa, will be available soon.

Stay tuned for more information on these significant changes.

On 19 November Jobs and Skills Australia published its latest report that sets out the strategic activities that aim to guide the next chapter of VET sector initiatives.

The report, Better Together: The Jobs and Skills Report 2024. outlines evidence and analysis across 5 strategic pillars that guide their work and help them collaborate effectively to achieve a more prosperous future:

1. Fostering inclusive participation.

1. Understanding today’s workforce.

1. Shaping Australia’s future workforce.

1. Optimising pathways and system architecture.
2. Activating an informed dialogue.

Click the link below to download the report.

The Australian Government has announced Mr David Shankey will be appointed as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the Net Zero Economy Authority.

The appointment comes as the Government’s Future Made in Australia legislation passes Parliament, a major step forward in making Australia indispensable to the global net zero transformation.

Mr Shankey brings significant senior leadership experience in energy and climate policy and a track record of delivering future-focused reforms with local communities front and centre.

As Deputy Director-General at Queensland’s Department of Energy and Public Works, Mr Shankey led the development of the state’s 10-year Energy and Jobs Plan.

Mr Shankey will work closely with Dr Iain Ross AO, Chair of the Net Zero Economy Authority.

The Net Zero Economy Authority will ensure Australian workers, industries and communities share the benefits of the net zero transition.

The Department of Education, Skills and Employment has announced revisions to the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), which will come into full regulatory effect from July 1, 2025. These updated Standards are the result of four years of extensive sector consultation, collaboration with states and territories, VET regulators, and sector peak bodies. The aim is to strengthen the focus on quality outcomes for learners and employers, provide greater clarity, and allow for more flexibility and innovation in training delivery.

Changes to the Standards are designed to better reflect the diversity of the VET sector and ensure the Standards are fit-for-purpose across different RTO settings. This will help to embed quality aspirations and ensure the Standards clearly articulate characteristics required of RTOs to foster a shared understanding of what constitutes high-quality delivery for all users of the VET system.

The revised Standards aim to embed quality aspirations and provide a more direct link between the requirements RTOs must meet and the outcomes they are expected to deliver. This ensures that all users of the VET system can expect high-quality training that meets their needs and supports their goals.

For more detailed information on the revised Standards and their implementation, please click here