26 September 2023

Summit puts APS on road for more jobs

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Australian Public Service Agencies are to receive more powers, more funding, more staff and more trainees following last week’s Summit in Jobs and Skills conducted in Canberra (1-2 Sepember).

Announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the Jobs and Skills Summit brought Government, employers, unions and the broader community together to agree on immediate actions to help build a stronger economy.

Releasing its Jobs + Skills Summit Outcomes, the Federal Treasury said 1,000 digital traineeships would be delivered into the APS over the next four years, with a focus on opportunities for women, First Nations people, older Australians and veterans transitioning to civilian life.

Also coming out of the Summit are to be 500 more visa processing jobs at the Department of Home Affairs, with Treasury saying $36.1 million in additional funding would be provided to accelerate visa processing and resolve the visa backlog.

To promote equal opportunities and reduce barriers to employment, the Department said the APS would be required to report to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency and set targets to improve gender equity in the Public Service.

It said the Respect@Work Council would be strengthened by giving business and unions a permanent seat at the table, along with Government and civil society to support women’s safety and respect at work.

Also in line for additional funding, Treasury said the Australian Bureau of Statistics is to receive funds to strengthen information on the barriers and incentives to work through the Labour Force Survey.

The Department said the Fair Work Commission would receive more powers under updates to the Fair Work Act 2009 to allow it to proactively help workers and businesses reach agreements that benefitted them, particularly new entrants, and small and medium businesses.

Treasury’s 13-page document Jobs + Skills Summit Outcomes can be accessed at this PS News link.

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