Welcome to the Department of Training and Workforce Development
The Department of Training and Workforce Development manages the State Government’s investment in vocational education and training. We work together with individuals, employers, business and industry and training providers to build a skilled Western Australian workforce for the future.
Our Priorities: Sharing Prosperity
Our Priorities: Sharing Prosperity is the WA Government’s response to the challenge of focusing the capacity of State Government to deliver better outcomes for all Western Australians. Targeted skills development through vocational education and training is a key strategy, as is supporting the creation and growth of jobs and the ongoing development of our workforce. Find out how we are contributing to this exciting initiative.
Jobs and Skills WA
As Western Australia’s economy grows and diversifies, the outlook for jobs is constantly changing. From 2018, Jobs and Skills WA is the way the State Government – through the Department – is prioritising its investment in training to focus on courses that support and enable people to take up jobs that are, or will be, in high demand. Many qualifications are subsidised, including apprenticeships and traineeships across a range of industries.
Priority Start policy
The Priority Start policy came into effect in Western Australia on 1 April 2019, replacing the previous Government building training (GBT) policy. The new policy meets the State Government’s Plan for Jobs commitment to maximise opportunities for apprentices and trainees on all major State Government funded building, construction and maintenance contracts.
Training providers and schools
We work with both public and private vocational education and training providers across Western Australia to provide support, information and resources that help to achieve quality outcomes for students and the State’s workforce.
Changes to TAFE in Western Australia
Following a review of the VET sector in Western Australia, the Training sector reform project was undertaken in 2015 to look at where improvements could be made to the State’s public training system; specifically the WA TAFE colleges, to deliver new choices to students, industry and the community.
