4 October 2023

A new integrated approach to post-secondary education advocated by the Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN) will be a cornerstone of the National Jobs and Skills Roadmap outlined in a report released today by Jobs and Skills Australia.

ATN Executive Director, Luke Sheehy, said moving Australia closer to a universal post-secondary education system was among ATN’s key recommendations to the Universities Accord panel.

“More than 90 per cent of jobs created over the next 10 years will need post-secondary school qualifications,” Mr Sheehy said. “If we ensure universal access to post-secondary education, it will provide broad benefits for the country, including delivering a skilled workforce for a stronger economy.”

The report identifies key reforms underway across higher education, vocational education and training and migration, including the Universities Accord, Employment White Paper, National Skills Agreement and upcoming Migration Strategy. Jobs and Skills Australia and the roadmap will be crucial to coordinating these reforms and forging a combined approach with industry, post-secondary education and the Government.

“Before the federal election, ATN and Ai Group called on the next government to establish a tripartite forum to address short and long-term skills challenges through post-secondary education and migration. This is now taking shape,” Mr Sheehy added.

“The key challenges we identified were boosting skills and workers in the engineering, tech and health and allied care sectors – and the employment growth and skills shortages data in today’s report confirm those priorities.”

The report also highlights the Noonan Review of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) – ATN also called for action on those recommendations in our recent Universities Accord submission.

Media Contact (not for publication)

Frank Coletta (Manager, Media and Communication) m: 0468 987 295 e: frank.coletta@atn.edu.au