National Skills Agreement

The National Skills Agreement is a 5-year joint agreement between the Commonwealth and states and territories to strengthen the vocational education and training (VET) sector

Working in partnership with the Commonwealth, the Northern Territory Government supports the delivery of a high-quality, responsive and accessible vocational education and training system in the Northern Territory. Through Territory initiatives and investments, the NT Government helps people develop the qualifications, skills and capabilities needed to secure rewarding employment, supporting local industry workforce needs contributing to Australia’s future productivity and workforce capability.

The agreement supports a set of national priorities that governments have agreed require targeted action to address emerging and critical skills and workforce priorities.

The agreed national priorities are:

• gender equality
• Closing the Gap
• supporting the Net Zero transformation
• sustaining essential care services
• developing Australia’s sovereign capability and food security
• ensuring Australia’s digital and technology capability
• delivering housing supply
• delivering reforms to improve the regulation of VET qualifications and quality.

The department is working to achieve these priorities through the Skills NT Plan. The department is remaining flexible with its implementation to ensure alignment with the Northern Territory Government’s strategic priorities and the response is practical and tailored to the Territory’s unique cultural landscape context.

Working with states and territories, the Commonwealth has agreed to specific policy initiatives to support critical skills and workforce needs through VET. The Northern Territory has begun implementing the initiatives.

To learn more about the National Skills Agreement and the Northern Territory's implementation commitments, view the National Skills Agreement and associated bilateral agreements between the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory.

View the current National Skills Agreement.

Bi-lateral implementation plans

• Improved Completions - Especially for Priority Groups PDF
• Measures to Strengthen the VET Workforce PDF
• Closing the gap PDF
• Enhanced VET Data and Evidence PDF
• National TAFE Network PDF
• TAFE Centres of Excellence PDF
• Ensuring Access to Foundation Skills Training PDF

Closing the Gap

The Northern Territory Closing the Gap Activity Plan outlines the Territory's approach to supporting Aboriginal skills, training and workforce outcomes under the National Skills Agreement.

Read the Northern Territory Closing the Gap Activity Plan, Performance Indicators and Evaluation Plan PDF (879.6 KB).