10 Aug Future delivery of foundation skills training in remote Australia
In December 2022, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) released a discussion paper titled the Future delivery of foundation skills training in remote Australia, how foundation skills delivery in remote Australia could be strengthened.
DEWR collected feedback to this discussion paper via an online survey, written submissions and a series of targeted online workshops. The feedback is now summarised in a new paper published on DEWR’s website. You can read it here: Future delivery of foundation skills training in remote Australia – Discussion Paper Response Summary and Analysis – Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Government (dewr.gov.au)
The paper contains important messages around the need for language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy (LLND) skills programs to be designed in partnership with, and led by, remote communities. “This community led component is critical for remote and First Nations communities, where success of the program can depend largely on word of mouth, and the support of key community members.” Feedback also included calls for longer funding periods, a commitment to embed resources in the community, support for the foundation skills sector and workforce, and community controlled organisations to lead program design.
Next steps outlined in the paper are that the feedback will be further used to inform the detailed design and implementation of the Australian Government’s Budget measure Foundation Skills programs – redesign and Pilot extension, in particular Stream 2 – First Nation Delivery of the SEE program. Consultations on Stream 2 guidelines will occur in the latter half of 2023.