Future delivery of foundation skills training in remote Australia: discussion paper: response summary and analysis

At the Jobs and Skills Summit, held in September 2022, the Australian Government committed to reinvigorating the delivery of foundation skills programs, in partnership with states, territories and foundation skills sector stakeholders. Over the period from September 2022 to March 2023, a series of consultations and engagements were conducted to better understand what is needed from a future foundation skills program. Drawing on this consultation and engagement, the Australian Government announced a redesigned foundation skills program in the 2023-24 Budget to improve access to training for all Australians seeking to develop their language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills.

As part of the consultations that informed the redesigned program, on 8 December 2022 the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (the department) released a discussion paper titled the Future delivery of foundation skills training in remote Australia [available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 150.447] to seek feedback on how foundation skills delivery in remote Australia could be strengthened. This paper provides a summary and synthesis of feedback received through consultations. Thirty-seven organisations and stakeholder groups either responded to the discussion paper or participated in virtual workshops. Stakeholders included peak body organisations, industry bodies, Skills for Education and Employment providers, Remote Community Pilot providers, and key First Nations representatives. Several themes emerged from responses, with the resounding message to Government to support language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy (LLND) skills programs that are designed in partnership with, and led by, remote communities.

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