The Future Skills Organisation (FSO) has released its Initial Workforce Plan which seeks to create a plan that would help address the growing demand for finance, technology and business skills in Australia.
A culmination of the past six months of operations as the Jobs and Skills Council for Australia’s finance, technology and business sectors, the report has highlighted an opportunity for the country’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) system to play a greater role in meeting future skill demands through the development of potentially innovative solutions.
The report also pointed out the five key priority areas which include the need to keep training solutions relevant to the workplace, the workforce’s digital capability gap, the importance of keeping pace with new technologies and their changing skills needs, and clearer pathways into and within finance, technology and business occupations.
According to the report, underpinning everything is the need to better support trainers and teachers in delivering the needed quality training.
The report will be showcased in the inaugural FSO National Forum in March titled Building a Skilled Workforce where Minister for Skills and Training, The Hon Brendan O’Connor MP, will deliver a keynote address at the FSO National Forum in Melbourne in March and is expected to bare the plans to put these recommendations into action.
“The Government is taking action to address current skills and workforce shortages through the remit of the Jobs and Skills Councils, and I look forward to engaging with the Future Skills Organisation at their inaugural National Forum to map out solutions to future-proof Australia’s finance, technology and business workforces,” Minister O’Connor said.
CEO of the Future Skills Organisation Patrick Kidd OBE OAM views this event as a key moment to bring together representatives from across the finance, technology and business sectors to drive deeper engagement, explore emerging themes, and identify opportunities to drive change.
“The National Forum will deliver an insightful and impactful event in Melbourne by bringing together industry leaders around a common goal to build a skilled, thriving and resilient finance, technology and business workforce,” Kidd said.
FSO Board Chair and Independent Director, Yasmin Allen AM will also deliver a keynote address at the upcoming Forum.
“This is a significant opportunity for stakeholders to work together to build a future-ready finance, technology and business workforce,” Allen said. “FSO’s Initial Workforce Plan helps to provide an agenda for action to increase the supply of people with relevant skills through VET. This is good for industry, good for learners and great for Australia. I am looking to the National Forum to generate practical and actionable ideas which can be taken forward.”
