NSW PUBLIC SCHOOLS are leading an increase in the number of students signing up to vocational education and training courses, which are helping them gain practical, job-ready skills for rewarding careers while also addressing critical shortages.

As the nation prepares to mark National Skills Week from August 24, new National Centre for Vocational Education Research figures show that NSW VET in School commencements increased by 30.8% or 13,850 across all three school sectors to 58,785 in 2025.

This was led by a surge at NSW public schools, where commencements rose by a massive 36.5% from 29,005 in 2024 to 39,605 in 2025.

This increase in commencements has driven total VET in School enrolments at NSW public schools to a record high of 44,550 in 2025.

NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said vocational education and training (VET) in schools gave students valuable skills, experiences and insight into the many pathways available to them after school.

“National Skills Week is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the incredible work of our VET teaching workforce and the opportunities they create for students every day," Mr Dizdar  said.

“By giving students practical, industry-connected skills while they are still at school, VET opens their eyes to careers they may not have considered and helps them make informed choices about their future.

“VET is about giving young people a head start – building the practical skills, confidence and experience they need to move from the classroom into further training, further study and rewarding careers.”

NSW public school students can enrol from as early as Year 9 in VET courses to help them prepare for further education, training or employment.

Schools offer a range of VET courses from construction through to entertainment services, providing students with recognition towards their HSC in addition to a nationally recognised VET qualification.

The lift in high school VET numbers has been supported by the NSW Government expansion of the Educational Pathways Program, and increased support for the Regional Industry Education Partnerships Program and school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs).

SBATs allow students to achieve a VET qualification and their HSC at the same time as gaining valuable work skills through paid employment.

These programs are helping to build a skilled, adaptable workforce that meets the needs of employers today while also preparing NSW for the jobs of the future.

The NSW Skills Plan 2024-2028 underlines the importance of strengthening VET pathways, transitions and career support for secondary learners.

National Skills Week 2026, under the theme Life Changing, raises awareness of the opportunities available through VET and the contributions of apprentices, trainees and skilled workers to industry, employers and the broader economy. 

NSW Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Minister Steve Whan said National Skills Week was the perfect opportunity to showcase to students how vocational education and training could transform lives, businesses and communities.

“I am delighted to see a record number of students in VET subjects. It shows more young people are recognising the value of practical, job-ready skills.

"National Skills Week is about celebrating the skills that work. These are the skills that lead to jobs, support industry and create opportunities for people right across NSW.

"Through our school-based initiatives we're connecting students with local employers, local industries and real career pathways, helping build the skilled workforce our state needs for the future."

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport will hear from the representatives of more than 50 councils during five interstate hearings in Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia this week as part of its inquiry into local government funding.

The committee wants to better understand the funding challenges faced by local government and its workers who provide infrastructure and deliver services to residents of regional and urban communities in Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia. It also wants to listen to issues faced by councils trying to meet the demands of rapidly growing commuter areas near Hobart, Launceston, Adelaide and Perth.

Committee Chair, Fiona Phillips MP, said, “The committee is looking forward to learning more about the fiscal sustainability of local government in Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia, potential solutions to current challenges, and the impacts of rising demands on the sector’s workforce.”

Hearings will begin in Launceston on Monday, August 24, where the committee will hear from local government representative bodies, unions, metropolitan councils and regional councils, including from King Island. The committee will explore a range of issues including workforce issues, and labour market conditions across Tasmania.

The committee will then travel to Adelaide for a hearing on Tuesday, August 25 to listen to councils as diverse as the City of Adelaide, Kangaroo Island Council and the Mildura Rural City Council in Victoria, as well as from local government associations for the Northern and Yorke, Murraylands and Riverlands, Limestone Coast and the Southern and Hills regions. The committee will hear from the Essential Services Commission of South Australia and members of the Australian Services Union too.

Port Lincoln in South Australia will be the next hearing venue on Wednesday, August 26, for the committee to listen to the range of challenges faced by rural district councils across the Eyre Peninsula, along with the larger city councils in Port Lincoln and Whyalla.

The committee will then travel to Perth for a hearing on Thursday, August 27, to explore a wide range of issues including grant distribution processes. It will hear from state government officials, councils in metropolitan, regional and outer‑urban areas, unions, and other stakeholders such as the WA Local Government Association, the Local Government Professionals WA and the Local Government Elected Members Association.

The committee’s final hearing in Western Australia will be in the wheatbelt town of Northam, on Friday, August 28.  Discussions will cover financial sustainability, insurance and risk, workforce and infrastructure challenges, as well as the broader pressures facing local government across regional WA such as providing rural health services.

Programs for each public hearing are available on the inquiry webpage.

Further information on the inquiry, including the terms of reference and how to contribute, is available on the Committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Monday, 24 August 2026
Time: 8.30am – 3.20pm
Location: Hotel Grand Chancellor, 29 Cameron Street, Launceston, Tasmania

Date: Tuesday, 25 August 2026
Time: 8.40am – 4.45pm
Location: Parliament of South Australia, Kingston Room, Adelaide, SA

Date: Wednesday, 26 August
Time: 8.30am – 1.30pm
Location: Port Lincoln Yacht Club, 1 Eyre Street, Port Lincoln, SA

Date: Thursday, 27 August 2026
Time: 9.00am – 4.25pm
Location: WA Legislative Council, Committee Room 1, 2 Parliament Place, West Perth, WA

Date: Friday, 28 August 2026
Time: 9.00am –4.30pm
Location: Bridgeley Community Centre, Avon Auditorium, 91 Wellington St, Northam, WA

Public hearings are broadcast live on the Australian Parliament House Streaming Portal.

Details for upcoming public hearings and more information about the inquiry, including the terms of reference, submissions and transcripts of previous hearings, is also available on the inquiry webpage.

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THE Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the establishment of the Senate Economics References Committee Inquiry into social housing, describing it as an important opportunity to identify the reforms needed to deliver more housing of all forms at scale and address the bottlenecks holding back housing supply broadly.

HIA said the inquiry comes at a critical time with governments struggling to meet housing supply targets and the mismatch between supply and demand continues to grow.

"The critical question for this inquiry is not whether Australia needs more social housing. The question is how governments can remove the barriers preventing enough housing of all types from being built," HIA managing director, Jocelyn Martin said.

"The inquiry should focus on practical reforms that deliver more housing across the continuum rather than simply expanding existing programs or producing another report identifying the problems without delivering concrete solutions industry has called for across multiple Inquiries and reports.

"A key area for consideration should be improvements on the operation of the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), including whether current delivery models are maximising the capacity of the broader residential building industry," she said.

“Australia's detached housing sector has extensive experience delivering large volumes of housing across metropolitan, regional and growth areas.

"We should be looking at how to bring more of these detached home builders into the system, create greater competition and deliver more homes for every dollar invested,” Ms Martin said.

“The inquiry should also recognise that social housing outcomes cannot be improved without addressing the broader constraints affecting the entire housing system.

"Whether it is social housing, affordable housing or private housing, we are building with the same planning systems, the same infrastructure networks and the same workforce.

"If governments want more social housing, they must also tackle planning delays, infrastructure bottlenecks, workforce shortages and rising construction costs that are constraining housing delivery across the board,” Ms Martin said.

"The residential building industry continues to face substantial workforce shortages, limiting the sector's ability to increase supply at the scale required.

"HIA will use the inquiry to advocate for reforms that increase housing supply across all tenures while ensuring social housing forms part of a balanced national housing strategy.

"The long-term solution to Australia's housing challenges is increasing housing supply across the spectrum.

"We need more social housing, more affordable housing and more private housing.

"This Inquiry provides an opportunity to ensure government investment is delivering the maximum number of homes possible and making use of the full capacity of Australia's residential building industry,” Ms Martin said.

www.hia.com.au

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THIS Friday, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works (the committee) will examine witnesses from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (the Department) on their proposed fit-out of new leased premises at London Central, 40-60 London Circuit, Canberra City.

The department is proposing to fit-out 46,389 square metres of newly leased office accommodation at 40-60 London Circuit, Canberra. The London Central development is scheduled for completion in early 2030, with the department expected to start move staff into the new building in March 2030.

The proposed works will enable the department to consolidate its Canberra-based workforce from five buildings into a single precinct. The total estimated cost of the proposal is $153.5 million, with a total construction cost of 110.6 million, or $2,375 per square metre.

The committee will be briefed in private about the project followed by the public hearing with departmental officials.

Interested members of the public are encouraged to listen in to the public hearing via the APH website or attend the hearing in person at the location listed below.

Date: Friday, 21 August 2026
Location: Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra
Time: 11:30am – 12:10pm (AEST)

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live

Note: the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works is not involved in the tendering process, awarding of contracts or details of the proposed works. Enquiries on these matters should be directed to the relevant Commonwealth entities.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters is holding a public hearing on Friday, August 21, with representatives of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church and Advance, as part of its inquiry into the conduct of the 2025 Federal Election.

"The committee has heard many reports about significant and apparently coordinated disruption at polling booths during the 2025 election," Committee Chair, Jerome Laxale MP said. "The committee will be seeking to build its understanding of third party engagement to ensure a positive experience for voters in future elections.

"I look forward to the cooperation of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church and Advance at the hearing," Mr Laxale said.

The program for the hearing is available on the committee’s public hearings webpage. The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

Further information on the 2025 election inquiry can be found at the inquiry webpage. Committee details can be found at the Committee’s webpage.

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THE Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) have welcomed the appointment of Royal Commission and announcement of the Terms of Reference into crime and misconduct in Vitoria's construction industry.  

For too long allegations about crime and corruption on Victorian building sites have threatened the integrity of taxpayer funded infrastructure projects, fundamentally undermining public trust in the sector and the state's capital program.  

Last month, VCCI and ACCI came together to call for a Royal Commission in a bid to restore confidence and public trust in this vital industry along with a range of other important measures to prevent and tackle corruption.  

VCCI has long called for the expansion of IBAC's powers and welcomes the government's indication it will advance legislation to deliver this.  

VCCI chief executive Sally Curtain said, “Those involved in the industry who are honest and hardworking deserve a system that protects them, not one that enables intimidation, coercion or criminal gain.

“It is vital we get to the bottom of what’s occurred and put in place mechanisms to prevent it from happening in the future.

“Restoring confidence in the sector requires clear rules, stronger enforcement and the political will to act.  It is encouraging that Premier Ben Carroll has moved quickly to establish this Royal Commission.” 

ACCI chief executive officer Andrew McKellar said, “Corruption has infected the Victorian construction sector to its core, and only a Royal Commission can expose its full extent and drive the systemic change required.

“We welcome the Victorian Premier’s decision to establish this inquiry, which must be fearless and prepared to pursue wrongdoing wherever the evidence leads.

“Victorians deserve to know that every taxpayer dollar spent on infrastructure is protected from corruption, intimidation and criminal influence.” 

www.victorianchamber.com.au

www.acci.com.au

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Migration will be holding public hearings in Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast in the coming days for its inquiry into the value of skilled migration to Australia.  

These build on public hearings already held in Canberra, Adelaide, and Sydney earlier this year. The committee will hear more perspectives from stakeholders involved in the migration system, including industry associations, migration agents and lawyers, academics, migrant support and community services, and vocational education providers.

In Melbourne, the committee’s focus will be on the business and technology sectors, and migration agents, legal and settlement services.

Moving to Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the committee will hear from South East Queensland-based multicultural organisations providing education and settlement services for migrants, as well as unions and employers.

“Throughout the inquiry, the committee has heard about the important role the skilled migration program plays in Australia’s economy,” Committee Chair, Steve Georganas MP, said. “At these hearings, we look forward to engaging with the business community to better understand if the program is meeting the needs of employers in key and emerging sectors.

"We are also interested in learning more about initiatives to encourage and support migrants to build their skills and settle in local communities, including pathways from education to skilled migration visas.”

The committee expects to conduct additional hearings in Canberra later this year. More details about the inquiry, including the terms of reference, submissions, public hearing transcripts, and upcoming public hearings are available on the committee’s website.

Public hearing details 

Melbourne  
Date: Friday, 21 August 2026  
Time: 9.30am to 4.20pm AEST
Location: Flinders Room, Mantra on Russell, 222 Russell Street, Melbourne.

Brisbane
Date: Monday, 24 August 2026 
Time: 10.20am to 3.20pm AEST
Location: Committee Room 1, Queensland Parliament, Corner George and Alice Streets, Brisbane.

Gold Coast  
Date: Tuesday, 25 August 2026 
Time: 9am to 12.50pm AEST
Location: Apollo Room 1, Mantra Legends Hotel, 25 Laycock Street, Surfers Paradise.

The hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has today tabled its report for its review of the Australia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment Bill 2026, recommending that the Bill be passed by the Parliament.

The Bill strengthens, streamlines and clarifies Australia’s Foreign Arrangements Scheme, delivering on recommendations from the 2025 independent review led by Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM.

At the heart of the reforms is a fundamental shift, moving the Scheme's focus from Australia's narrower 'foreign relations' to the broader concept of the 'national interest' – a change the committee says is overdue given the current strategic environment.

The Committee received 11 submissions from stakeholders, including universities, local government representatives, academics and relevant Commonwealth agencies, and held a public hearing in Canberra on August 6.

Committee Chair Senator Raff Ciccone said the committee had weighed the evidence carefully, particularly the implications of broadening the Bill's scope.

“Australia’s economic security, national security, research capability, foreign policy and international engagement are increasingly interconnected,” Senator Ciccone said.

“The proposed amendments more accurately reflect the contemporary strategic environment and will allow foreign arrangements to be assessed against the full range of Australia’s national interests.”

The reforms also cut red tape and sharpen the scheme's focus on higher-risk activities. Key changes include a one-step notification process for non-core arrangements, reduced approval requirements for minor variations, clearer institutional autonomy provisions for foreign universities and improvements to the public register.

The committee concluded that the amendments strike the right balance between maintaining Commonwealth visibility and oversight of foreign arrangements that may affect Australia’s national interest, while cutting unnecessary regulatory burden for lower-risk activities.

Further details on the review and the report are available on the committee’s website: aph.gov.au/pjcis

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