Our vision is "Transforming lives and communities, and enabling a thriving economy."
Western Australia’s diversifying economy and changing industry needs require a labour force that is skilled, versatile and highly competitive. We work closely with industry, government and the community across WA to support and facilitate training and workforce development strategies that will build, attract and retain a skilled workforce for now and into the future. This is being achieved through our focus on:
- planning and leading the State Government response to workforce development issues in WA;
- growing WA’s workforce through attraction, retention, participation and skilled migration strategies;
- providing career development services that support individuals to plan and reach employment and career goals;
- delivering an innovative, flexible and responsive vocational and education training system; and
- governing our services and performance systems to ensure they are client centred, of the highest quality and managed in an open, transparent and accountable manner.
We fund vocational education and training (VET) delivered by WA TAFE colleges with over 50 campuses and up to 16 satellite training delivery locations statewide, the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), and over 170 contracted private registered training providers.
We also fund and support a network of Jobs and Skills Centres (JSCs) across WA — one-stop shops that provide free career, training and employment advice and assistance — with additional outreach locations for services to regional areas.
The Department also owns and manages Muresk Institute, which supports WA's agriculture industry by brokering agriculture and other innovative training and research programs. We also manage and support international students studying at WA TAFE colleges through our TAFE International WA (TIWA) branch, and support the State Government's skilled migration program through our WA Migration Services branch.
Key documents
Corporate documents, including our Annual Report and our Strategic Plan, are available via the link below.
Media enquiries
For all media enquiries, please contact the Department’s Communications and Marketing team via email at media@dtwd.wa.gov.au and we will respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.
Business ethics
Our Statement of Business Ethics (Statement) provides guidance to business partners, contractors and suppliers on the values and ethical standards we uphold when conducting business, and the conduct and standards we expect from our business partners, contractors and suppliers in return. Compliance with this Statement will enable fair and ethical partnerships to be built to the advantage of both parties.
Code of Conduct
Show moreOur Code of Conduct (the Code) sets out principles and standards of behaviour that all employees must observe when performing their duties and is intended to promote accountable and ethical decision making. The Code includes the following principles.
- Principle 1: We value the Department’s reputation and act in the best interest of both the public and Department
- Principle 2: We act with honesty and integrity
- Principle 3: We act in an open, transparent and accountable manner and commit to using public resources responsibly
- Principle 4: We commit to ensuring a healthy and safe workplace
- Principle 5: We act professionally and treat others with respect, courtesy and fairness
- Principle 6: We respect and maintain privacy and confidentiality
What you can expect from the Department
Show moreWe will maintain and update all relevant policies, protocols and procedures to reflect legislation and industry best practice to guide employees’ actions and decisions. You can expect Department employees to:
- accept responsibility and be accountable for their decisions and actions which at all times will be fair, ethical, transparent and legal;
- promote and uphold the integrity of the Department and the State Government;
- act professionally always and provide a proactive and responsive service to maintain excellent and efficient working relationships with all our business partners;
- disclose any real or perceived conflicts of interest and immediately report any real or perceived unethical behaviour;
- utilise public resources efficiently and effectively; and
- secure and protect your proprietary and commercial in confidence information.
What the Department expects from you
Show moreThe Department expects all business partners, contractors and suppliers (and any of their sub-contractors) to be aware of this Statement, and of our obligations and commitment to comply with the law and applicable legislation. We expect all business partners, contractors and suppliers to act ethically, fairly and legally and provide goods and services in compliance with contract and purchasing requirements.
We take a zero tolerance approach to unethical behaviour, including fraud and corruption, which will be investigated and may result in negative consequences such as:
- termination of contracts and loss of future work with the Department;
- debarment from supplying goods, services or works to State Government agencies;
- damage to business reputation;
- referral to investigative bodies including the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) and the Public Sector Commission (PSC) and/or criminal investigation.
Conflicts of interest
Show moreThe Department and our employees must ensure there is no actual, perceived or potential conflict of interest between personal interests and the impartial fulfilment of public duties and functions. This includes those that exist, or could arise, from personal relationships between employees and staff of contractors, the suppliers of goods and services through procurement processes, and all other areas of business including recruitment.
Any conflicts of interest must be disclosed and the offering of inducements to any employee, or collusion with employees or other contractors, are scrupulously avoided.
The Department has systems to manage any actual, perceived or potential conflicts of interest. Our systems ensure that any actual or potential conflict of interest must be resolved in favour of the public interest.
Confidentiality and intellectual property
Show moreThe specific requirements of copyright laws and individual contracts must be adhered to in relation to confidentiality and intellectual property.
The Department will take all reasonable steps to protect your proprietary and commercial in confidence information. Such information will not be released without your permission, or as required by the Freedom of Information Act 1992 or other applicable legislation.
Communication and cooperation
Show moreThe Department and its business partners, contractors and suppliers will maintain business relationships based on open and effective communication, respect and trust and adopt a non-adversarial approach to dispute resolution.
Secondary employment
Show moreBusiness partners, contractors and suppliers must not offer Department employees secondary employment that conflicts with the employee’s public duties.
Gifts, benefits and hospitality
Show moreThe Department and our employees do not expect and will not seek from business partners, contractors and suppliers any incentives, gifts or acts of hospitality for carrying out normal business activity.
Any offers of gifts, benefits or hospitality must be declared and recorded in the Department’s gift register, as per Department policy.
The offer of gifts, benefits and hospitality must not be encumbered by an obligation or to seek a favourable outcome that creates a real or perceived conflict of interest (for example; during a tendering or procurement process, or prior to a contract performance review).
Public comment
Show moreRepresentatives of business partners, contractors and suppliers must not make any public comment or statement that may lead anyone to believe that they are representing the Department.
Public interest disclosure
Show moreThe Department does not tolerate corrupt or other improper conduct, including mismanagement of public resources, in the exercise of its public functions, and is committed to the aims of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003 (the Act).
The Act promotes accountability within government agencies by facilitating the disclosure of public interest information involving misconduct, offences, misuse of public resources or risks to public health or safety. It also serves as a means to protect those who make disclosures to appropriate authorities, and those who are the subject of disclosures.
We recognise the value and importance of reporting to identify and address potential wrongdoing. We will respond to disclosures thoroughly and impartially, and treat all people in the disclosure process fairly — including those who may be the subject of a disclosure.
Our PID policy and procedures provide further information on how the Department deals with and processes public interest disclosures.
PID enquiries
We strongly encourage anyone thinking about making a public interest disclosure to seek confidential advice from the Department's principal PID officer before making a disclosure. All enquiries will be treated in confidence.
For further information, please contact the Department's Principal PID Officer.
Lodging a disclosure of public interest information
Those wishing to make a disclosure of public interest information under the Act are encouraged to do so in writing. The Public interest disclosure lodgement form is available to assist you in defining the details of your disclosure.
Reporting misconduct to external agencies
Show moreThe Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003 and the Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Act 2003 protect persons who disclose misconduct from reprisal or detrimental action and ensure disclosures are properly assessed and dealt with.
Information on how to make disclosures to the Public Sector Commission or the Corruption and Crime Commission can be obtained by visiting their websites.
Freedom of information
Show moreIn WA, under the Freedom of Information Act 1992 (the FOI Act), the right applies to documents held by most State government agencies (such as departments, public hospitals, public universities and State government authorities), Ministers and local government.
