Report on the Review of Skills, Training and Workforce Development

On Thursday 21 May 2020, Premier Mark McGowan and the Minister for Education and Training Sue Ellery jointly announced the establishment of an urgent review of skills, training and workforce development (the review) in response to [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19's impact on the workforce in Western Australia. The objectives of the Review were to: identify practical training solutions in response to COVID-19 to meet industry needs, and ensure maximum opportunities for Western Australians to benefit from employment, skills, training and workforce development during this period of...  [+] Show more

On Thursday 21 May 2020, Premier Mark McGowan and the Minister for Education and Training Sue Ellery jointly announced the establishment of an urgent review of skills, training and workforce development (the review) in response to [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19's impact on the workforce in Western Australia. The objectives of the Review were to: identify practical training solutions in response to COVID-19 to meet industry needs, and ensure maximum opportunities for Western Australians to benefit from employment, skills, training and workforce development during this period of economic recovery; ensure a coordinated, effective and efficient means for business to navigate the training system and deliver outcomes for the state on an ongoing basis; establish a direct pathway for business to discuss and implement training solutions with the primary state provider, TAFE; consider opportunities for training to be reframed to be more responsive, quicker in skilling people and more accessible in reach and cost; and, identify options so that people are able to stay engaged through training and reposition their skills for new work directions.

The review team was asked to engage with industry and business to identify practical and responsive training solutions for the post COVID-19 recovery period; and over the review period met with over 238 stakeholders in 70 meetings. The report on the review sets out a targeted training and skills roadmap for Western Australia's economic recovery, and outlines the observations and recommendations of the review team under five key themes: New futures for Western Australians; 21st Century Apprenticeships; Maximising skills from Government investment; Live-learn-work in regional WA; and Next generation training. The report details a total of 46 recommendations.

Edited excerpts from publications.