Improve access to training for all Australians seeking to develop their language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills from 1 July 2024.
The Government will introduce a redesigned Commonwealth foundation skills program to improve access to training for all Australians seeking to develop their language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills from 1 July 2024. This measure delivers on the Government's commitment from the Jobs and Skills Summit to reinvigorate foundation skills programs to support workers and vulnerable Australians to gain secure employment. The redesigned program will expand eligibility to those who are not registered job seekers, and will be delivered through a mix of national and local solutions to improve access and delivery. This will include a specific focus on First Nations people with place-based, whole of community projects designed to meet community language, literacy, numeracy, and digital needs, and delivered through First Nations organisations in partnership with TAFEs and other Registered Training Organisations, or Adult and Community Education sector providers. The Government will also provide $3.5 million over two years from 2022-23 to extend the Foundation Skills for Your Future Remote Community Pilots by 12 months to 30 June 2024 to align with the commencement of the redesigned program. The cost of this measure will be met from within the existing resourcing of the Foundation Skills for Your Future program and the Skills for Education and Employment program.