In this policy update, we highlight important reports and initiatives that were announced in late March and April of 2025 that influence the Arts, Personal Services, Retail, Tourism, Hospitality and Vocational Education and Training (VET) sectors, as well as the broader economic landscape.
Rebuilding the Economy: NT Economic Strategy 2025-2028
On 18 March, the Northern Territory Government unveiled its Rebuilding the Economy: Northern Territory Economic Strategy 2025–2028, a forward-looking plan designed to accelerate economic growth, harness regional strengths and enhance the wellbeing of all Territorians.
The Strategy outlines three key ambitions:
- Grow faster than the rest of the nation – by building an economy that consistently outpaces national economic performance.
- Leverage regional strengths – by focusing investment and effort on sectors where the Territory holds a comparative advantage and strong long-term growth potential.
- Deliver benefits to all Territorians – by improving quality of life and restoring the Territory’s distinctive lifestyle.
Of particular relevance to SaCSA and our stakeholders is the Strategy’s strong emphasis on strengthening skills and training. It proposes fostering robust collaborations between businesses, community service organisations and vocational education and training (VET) providers. These partnerships aim to align training programs and support services with current and future workforce needs, ensuring that Territorians are equipped to thrive in an evolving job market.
Read the strategy here.
REOS Recruitment Insights Report – February 2025
On 18 March, Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) released their REOS Recruitment Insights Report – February 2025.
Key findings from the Report include:
- Headline figures for February 2025 show a continued favourable recruitment environment.
- More employers are recruiting, with the national recruitment rate rising back to a level last seen 12 months ago.
- This is further supported by a sharp rise in the proportion of employers who have increased their staffing numbers over the month.
- Along with an increase in recruitment, employers are also finding it less difficult to recruit.
- The number of vacancies taking longer than one month to fill also continues to ease, with the proportion of employers citing unfilled vacancies dropping to an historical low.
Access the Report here.
THRIVE 2030 Recovery Phase (2022-2024) Final Report
At the Tourism Ministers’ Meeting on 21 March 2025, the THRIVE 2030: Recovery Phase (2022–2024) Final Report was officially released, providing a comprehensive update on the progress of Australia’s national tourism strategy.
The Phase 1 Recovery Action Plan, implemented between 2022 and 2024, focused on addressing the significant challenges faced by Australia’s visitor economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It set out 64 strategic actions aligned with the seven key policy priorities of THRIVE 2030.
According to the final report, 62 of the 64 actions have been initiated, with 26 fully completed and 36 continuing as part of the ongoing implementation of THRIVE 2030.
Access the Report here.
NCVER – Apprentice and trainee outcomes 2024
On 24 March, the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) released its Apprentice and Trainee Outcomes 2024 report, offering insights into the experiences and post-training outcomes of individuals aged 15 and over who completed an apprenticeship or traineeship in 2023.
The findings are based on responses from 20,877 participants in the National Student Outcomes Survey, conducted between June and August 2024.
A key highlight from the report is the strong employment outcomes among graduates:
- 95.4% of trade completers were employed after finishing their apprenticeship or traineeship
- 89.4% of non-trade completers secured employment following finishing their apprenticeship or traineeship
These figures reflect the continued value of vocational education and training in equipping Australians with skills that lead to meaningful employment across a range of industries.
Access the full Report here.
NCVER – Effective teaching and learning: teacher perspectives on what works best for whom
On 25 March, NCVER released their Effective teaching and learning: teacher perspectives on what works best for whom research report.
This research examined VET teachers’ understanding of how people learn and how they cater to the learning needs and preferences of their students across a range of different contexts. It found that most VET teachers use a similar overarching strategy in their teaching that aims to enable a diversity of students to learn effectively. It also describes what is needed to enable the implementation of good teaching practices, including support for new teachers, dedicated time and space to learn and use new teaching skills and recognising the skills and human element of good VET teaching.
Access the Report here.
National Visitor Survey Results – December Quarter 2024
On 27 March, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission released their National Visitor Survey Results – December Quarter 2024 report.
Highlights from the report show:
December quarter 2024
- Overnight spend $28.1 billion (on par with 2023)
- Overnight trips 29.1million (up 1% on 2023)
- Nights – 97.5million (on par with 2023).
Year ending in December 2024
- Overnight spend $110.3 billion (up 1% on 2023)
- Overnight trips 115 million (up 2% on 2023)
- Nights – 397.5 million (down 1% from 2023).
Access the report here.
A Place to Create – A 10-year cultural policy for all South Australians
On 31 March, the South Australian Government released two landmark policy documents aimed at shaping the future of the state’s arts and creative industries:
- A Place to Create – a 10-year cultural policy for all South Australians
- A Place to Create: Delivery Plan 2025–2027 – a roadmap for implementation over the next three years.
The 10-year policy presents a bold vision to enrich South Australia’s future by strengthening communities, enlivening public spaces, and connecting people through arts, culture and creativity. It underscores the importance of creative expression as a driver of social wellbeing, economic growth and cultural identity.
The accompanying Delivery Plan outlines the key priorities, strategic ambitions, and actionable goals for the 2025–2027 period, providing a practical framework to bring the policy’s vision to life.
Access both the Policy and the Delivery Plan here.
Public Partnerships for Public Benefit – The NSW Higher Education Strategy 2025-2029
On 1 April, the NSW Government released their Public Partnerships for Public Benefit – the NSW Higher Education Strategy 2025-2029. The Strategy is a commitment by the NSW Government and the NSW Vice-Chancellors’ Committee.
The Strategy outlines a shared vision to harness the strengths of NSW’s world-class universities to drive positive outcomes for both learners and industry. It sets out a strategic framework to enable stronger collaboration between government and universities that targets workforce needs, student pathways, equity and effective public policy.
Of particular relevance to SaCSA and our stakeholders, the Strategy recognises that meeting NSW’s evolving skills needs requires a strong, sustainable higher education system that is better integrated with the VET sector.
The Strategy provides four Shared Priorities, which you can read more about here.
NSW Small Business Commissioner – Annual Report 2024
On 8 April, the NSW Small Business Commissioner released the 2024 Annual Report, highlighting the continued growth and economic significance of small businesses across the state.
According to the report, NSW saw an increase of 24,000 small businesses in 2024, bringing the total to approximately 873,000.
Small businesses now represent 97% of all businesses in NSW, playing a critical role in the state’s economy. They contribute:
- $536 billion in annual sales and services income
- $76 billion in wages and salaries
- Employment for 1.8 million people.
These figures reaffirm the essential role small businesses play in driving economic activity, creating jobs and supporting communities throughout NSW.
Access the full Report here.
SA’s Youth Action Plan 2025-2028
On 9 April, the South Australian Government launched the South Australia Youth Action Plan 2025–2028, outlining a comprehensive strategy to address the key challenges facing young people across the state. The Plan focuses on critical issues such as the rising cost of living, limited housing availability and an escalating mental health crisis.
Of particular relevance to SaCSA and our stakeholders, the Plan places a strong emphasis on the skills and training sector, identifying ways it can be improved to better reflect the needs, aspirations and lived experiences of young people.
Access the Plan here.
We encourage our stakeholders to delve deeper into these reports and strategies to understand their potential impact and leverage them in planning and decision-making. As always, we remain committed to supporting a vibrant and sustainable workforce across all industries.
Author: Shane Kocass, Policy Officer at SaCSA, analyses government policies, fosters meaningful engagement with government stakeholders, and assists in navigating the complex policy landscape to drive impactful outcomes.