Current functions

Proposed functions

(1)Jobs and Skills Australia has the following functions:

(a)To provide advice to the Minister or the Secretary in relation to the following:

(i)Australia’s current and emerging labour market, including advice on workforce needs and priorities;

(ii)Australia’s current, emerging and future skills and training needs and priorities (including in relation to apprenticeships);

(iii)the adequacy of the Australian system for providing VET, including training outcomes;

(iv)issues relating to skills and training, and workforce needs, in regional, rural and remote Australia;

(v)pathways into VET and pathways between VET and higher education;

(vi)opportunities to improve employment, VET and higher education outcomes for cohorts of individuals that have historically experienced labour market disadvantage and exclusion;

(vii)opportunities to remove barriers to achieving gender equality in the provision of training and in the labour market, and opportunities to improve gender equality outcomes;

(1)Jobs and Skills Australia has the following functions:

(a)To provide advice to the Minister or the Secretary in relation to the following:

(i)Australia’s current and emerging labour market, including advice on workforce needs and priorities;

(ii)Australia’s current, emerging and future skills and training needs and priorities (including in relation to apprenticeships, VET and higher education);

(iii)the adequacy of the Australian system for providing VET, including training outcomes;

(iv)issues relating to skills and training, and workforce needs, in regional, rural and remote Australia; [replaced by a broader function at (cb) below]

(v)pathways into VET and pathways between VET and higher education;

(vi)opportunities to improve employment, VET and higher education outcomes for cohorts of individuals that have historically experienced labour market disadvantage and exclusion; [replaced by a similar function at (cc) below]

(vii)opportunities to remove barriers to achieving gender equality in the provision of training and in the labour market, and opportunities to improve gender equality outcomes;

(viii)the impact of workplace arrangements, including insecure work, on economic and social outcomes.

(b)To prepare capacity studies, including for emerging and growing industries and occupations;

(b)To prepare capacity studies, including for emerging and growing industries and occupations;

(c)To undertake workforce forecasting, assess workforce skills requirements and undertake cross‑industry workforce analysis;

(c)To undertake workforce forecasting, assess workforce skills requirements and undertake cross‑industry workforce analysis:

(ca) to identify labour market imbalances and analyse the demand and supply of skills;

(cb) to analyse skills needs and workforce needs, including in regional, rural and remote Australia, and in relation to migration;

(cc) to undertake studies, including on opportunities to improve employment, VET and higher education outcomes for cohorts of individuals that have historically experienced labour market disadvantage and exclusion;

(cd) to contribute to industry consultation forums;

(d)To undertake research and analysis on the resourcing and funding requirements for registered training organisations (within the meaning of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011) to deliver accessible quality VET courses;

(d)To undertake research and analysis on the resourcing and funding requirements for registered training organisations (within the meaning of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011) to deliver accessible quality VET courses;

(e)To inform the public about the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d);

(e)To inform the public about the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d);

(f)To collect, analyse, share and publish data and other information about the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d) to inform policy development and program delivery; and

(f)To collect, analyse, share and publish data and other information about the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d) to inform policy development and program delivery; and

(g)Any other function that:

(i)is conferred on Jobs and Skills Australia by the rules, by this Act or by any other law of the Commonwealth; or

(ii)is incidental or conducive to the performance of the above functions.

(g)Any other function that:

(i)is conferred on Jobs and Skills Australia by the rules, by this Act or by any other law of the Commonwealth; or

(ii)is incidental or conducive to the performance of the above functions.

(2) Jobs and Skills Australia must, before the end of each calendar year beginning on or after 1 January 2023, prepare and give to the Minister a report on Australia’s current, emerging and future skills and training needs and priorities (including in relation to apprenticeships) during the calendar year.

(2) Jobs and Skills Australia must, before the end of each calendar year beginning on or after 1 January 2023, prepare and give to the Minister a report on Australia’s current, emerging and future skills and training needs and priorities (including in relation to apprenticeships) during the calendar year.

[This requirement now appears at subsection 27A(1)]

(3) The Minister must table the report in each House of the Parliament:

(a)within the period of 14 calendar days after receiving the report; or

(b)if no sitting day of the relevant House occurs within that period—on the next sitting day of that House after the end of that period.

(3) The Minister must table the report in each House of the Parliament:

(a)within the period of 14 calendar days after receiving the report; or

(b)if no sitting day of the relevant House occurs within that period—on the next sitting day of that House after the end of that period.

[This requirement now appears at subsection 27A(2)]

(4) Jobs and Skills Australia must, within 14 calendar days after giving the report to the Minister, publish the report:

(a)on the Department’s website; or

(b)if the rules specify another manner in which the report is to be published—in that manner.

(4) Jobs and Skills Australia must, within 14 calendar days after giving the report to the Minister, publish the report:

(a)on the Department’s website; or

(b)if the rules specify another manner in which the report is to be published—in that manner.

[This requirement now appears at subsection 27A(3). The reference to the 'Department's website' is replaced by the 'Jobs and Skills Australia website']