The National Skills Plan outlines Skills Ministers’ vision for the national Vocational Education and Training (VET) system, and the approach to achieving the shared goals of the National Skills Agreement.
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The National Skills Plan has been developed under the National Skills Agreement to:
- communicate Skills Ministers’ shared vision for the VET system and how governments will work together to deliver on shared outcomes and priorities
- provide direction for industry, employers, and the VET sector to help align efforts towards the same objectives
- detail initiatives to strengthen the VET system architecture and workforce, better meet the needs of students and industry, and address cross-cutting and industry-specific national priorities
- identify action and progress in addressing national priorities and agreed outcomes as well as an overview of key milestones over the period of the National Skills Agreement
- communicate how governments will work collaboratively and provides a base for further engagement with stakeholders.
The National Skills Plan supports shared stewardship of the VET system – a new focus on collaboration, planning and evidence-based reform, with all governments working in partnership to deliver a responsive skills and training system.
The National Skills Plan is reviewed by the Skills and Workforce Ministerial Council annually. The National Skills Plan 2025—26 Update reflects the progress made in implementing the National Skills Agreement and delivering on the national priorities and policy initiatives within the previous 12 months, and includes new national actions announced since publication of the inaugural Plan.
The Commonwealth, states and territories will also produce individual jurisdictional action plans that detail the action each government will take to deliver on the National Skills Plan and National Skills Agreement. These will be reviewed and updated annually.