In this policy update, we highlight important reports and initiatives that were announced in late February and March 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.
NCVER Releases Government-funded students and courses
On 25 February, NCVER released Government-funded students and courses – January to September 2024, revealing a 4.3% increase in students enrolled in government-funded, nationally recognised qualifications compared to the same period in 2023, reaching 995,090. This marks a 13.4% rise from 2019.
Key findings from the report include:
- TAFE institute enrolments rose by 8.4% to 550,510 (a 10.2% increase from the same period in 2019).
- Private and Community provider enrolments remained steady at 462,015 (up 17.9% from the same period in 2019).
- Enrolments in Certificate III or higher qualifications grew by 4.5% to 846,610 (a 15.7% increase from the same period in 2019).
VTIC Launches Framework to Drive the Future of Victoria’s Visitor Economy
On 28 February, the Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) launched its Framework to Drive the Future of Victoria’s Visitor Economy, aiming to position the visitor economy as a key driver of the state’s economic future.
Of particular interest to SaCSA and our stakeholders, VTIC is calling for greater collaboration between industry and government to enhance the profile and desirability of careers in Tourism. This includes improving skills and training opportunities across the sector and strengthening pathways for industry to collaborate with the TAFE network in curriculum development, traineeships and employment pathways.
NSW Government Response to the Joint Select Committee on Arts and Music Education and Training in NSW
On 12 March, the NSW Government released its response to the Joint Select Committee on Arts and Music Education and Training in NSW.
The response acknowledges the need to improve working conditions and the business environment for creative practitioners. It outlines commitments to advocating for industrial relations reform, fair remuneration, gender equity and industry standards, as well as incentivising the creation of safe and inclusive workplaces.
SaCSA is reviewing the response and its recommendations and looks forward to further engagement with the NSW Government on arts and music education and training in NSW.
JSA Releases Gender Framework
On 14 March, JSA released its Gender Framework, a labour market and skills framework designed to embed and strengthen gendered and intersectional analysis across JSA.
Applying gendered and intersectional perspectives to labour market and skills systems has been established at both macroeconomic and microeconomic levels as essential for developing evidence-based policy and accelerating progress toward gender economic equality.
The framework mandates a more targeted approach to gender analysis and provides best-practice guidance on its implementation.
Given the highly gendered nature of the sectors SaCSA represents, we welcome this initiative from JSA and will closely examine the resulting data.
JSA Releases their Opportunity and Productivity: Towards a Tertiary Harmonisation Roadmap
On 22 February, JSA released the Opportunity and Productivity: Towards a Tertiary Harmonisation Roadmap report, outlining the benefits of a more harmonised tertiary education sector and providing 19 recommendations to achieve this.
Tertiary harmonisation refers to the strategic alignment of the VET and Higher Education sectors through coordination and collaboration among key system stakeholders. Its goal is to equip learners with the skills and knowledge they need—and the ability to apply them—to succeed in the labour market.
Importantly, tertiary harmonisation is not about merging or integrating VET and Higher Education; both sectors would remain distinct.
JSA Releasees Employers’ Experiences of Young Job Applicants Report
The report released on 6 March highlights the challenges young people face in the job market. With youth unemployment at 9% (more than double the national rate of 4%) and a growing number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET), the transition into work is becoming increasingly difficult.
Key findings of interest to SaCSA and our industries include:
- Certain occupations attract more young jobseekers, with employers in these fields more likely to hire young workers. The three most common occupations for young applicants are Sales Workers, Community and Personal Service Workers and Labourers.
- Only 34% of employers required young job applicants to undertake a work trial, including Accommodation and Food Services, Other Services, Manufacturing and Health Care and Social Assistance.
- As the economy has become more services orientated, demand has grown for workers in Retail Trade, Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services, industries known for irregular hours and lower-skilled roles.
- Accommodation and Food Services, Retail Trade and Manufacturing are among the industries with the highest number of young job applicants.
Read the report by JSA here.
NT Government Releases Military Heritage Tourism Action Plan
On 21 February, the Northern Territory Government released its Military Heritage Tourism Action Plan, highlighting the unique opportunities military tourism offers for the region.
With a rich network of war memorials, bunkers, airfields and other historic sites, the NT provides valuable insight into Australia’s wartime history and the sacrifices made to protect its northern frontier.
The plan outlines various ways for tourism operators to engage with military heritage tourism and we encourage relevant stakeholders and industries to explore these opportunities.
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.