Building First Nations Skills and Training Partnerships

Working together

Together we are building genuine partnerships with First Nations vocational education and training (VET) leaders to ensure First Nations culture is at the core of training delivery for First Nations learners.

Creating opportunities to collaborate and listen to First Nations peoples is crucial to progressing this important work. Across the country, new ways of working are being established between governments and First Nations partner organisations to drive change across the VET sector.

The National Skills Agreement sets out the Commonwealth’s commitment to working with the states and the Coalition of Peaks to establish a nationally networked First Nations VET Policy Partnership, commencing with an Interim Partnership Committee.

Interim Partnership Committee – VET Policy Partnership

The National Agreement on Closing the Gap, including the Priority Reforms is a whole of government commitment - all Australian governments have committed to working in partnership to work towards improving Closing the Gap outcomes.

In line with the Closing the Gap Priority Reforms, the Commonwealth, as represented by the department, is committed to working in partnership with the Coalition of Peaks and state governments to establish the VET Policy Partnership and enable a First Nations VET peak or alternative arrangement to represent First Nations communities and organisations and support First Nations-led research, projects, pilots and initiatives.

The department and the Coalition of Peaks co-chair the First Nations VET Interim Partnership Committee (IPC). This group is made up of equal representatives from the First Nations organisations and government. The IPC has met 3 times and are progressing the design of the nationally networked VET Policy Partnership for the consideration of Skills Ministers by end of 2025.

The intended outcome of the VET Policy Partnership is to strengthen high-quality VET skills offerings for First Nations learners, leading to improved employment opportunities.

View National Skills Agreement to see the Closing the Gap national priorities

Read more on the National Agreement on Closing the Gap

Learn more about the Coalition of Peaks

Leadership roundtables

Commencing in 2024, First Nations partner organisations, the Australian Government, and state and territory governments are coming together for a series of leadership roundtables. These roundtables are an opportunity to share stories and experiences and to collaborate on ways we can improve skills and training outcomes for First Nations peoples.

Communiques and outcomes