Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (Victoria)

Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (Victoria)
Agency name	Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions
Type	Department
Formed	2023
Jurisdiction	Victoria, Australia
Minister1 name	Jacinta Allan
Headquarters	Melbourne

Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (Victoria) is an agency of the Victorian public administration responsible for employment, vocational training, industrial development and regional policy across Victoria (Australia), reporting to ministers in the Victorian Cabinet such as the Premier of Victoria and the Minister for Employment. The department coordinates with entities including Local government in Australia, Business Victoria, TAFE institutes and regional development boards, and interfaces with national bodies such as the Australian Government, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (Australia), and agencies like Australian Skills Quality Authority.

History

The department was established in a machinery-of-government change following state election outcomes, succeeding elements of previously separate agencies that tracked back to the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources and the Department of Education and Training (Victoria). Its creation followed cabinet reshuffles associated with premiers such as Dan Andrews and policy shifts after events including the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, and statewide recovery programs. The formation drew on precedents from other jurisdictions such as the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in New Zealand, and reforms influenced by reports from entities like the Productivity Commission and the Australian Industry Group.

Structure and leadership

The department is headed by a Secretary appointed under state public service arrangements, working with ministers including portfolios comparable to the Minister for Regional Development (Victoria), Minister for Training and Skills (Victoria), and the Minister for Industry and Innovation. Its internal divisions reflect functions found in agencies like the Victorian Skills Authority, the Regional Development Victoria, and units similar to the Office of Small Business and the Victorian Small Business Commission. Senior executives liaise with statutory authorities such as WorkSafe Victoria, Victorian Managed Insurance Authority, and research partners including CSRIO-aligned institutes, universities like the University of Melbourne, the Monash University, and industry groups such as the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Responsibilities and functions

The department's remit includes workforce planning analogous to programs run by Skills for Australia, coordination of vocational education similar to TAFE Gippsland and Melbourne Polytechnic, and industry development activities seen in sectors like manufacturing in Victoria, agriculture in Victoria, and tourism in Victoria. It administers apprenticeship policy comparable to frameworks from the Australian Apprenticeships system, supports innovation initiatives related to the National Innovation and Science Agenda, and manages regional infrastructure projects akin to those overseen by the Infrastructure Victoria. The department also engages with multicultural communities represented by groups such as Victorian Multicultural Commission, Indigenous stakeholders including the Koorie Heritage Trust, and cross-border bodies like the New South Wales Government on shared initiatives.

Agencies and statutory bodies

The department oversees or works closely with statutory bodies and agencies including the Victorian Skills Authority, Regional Development Victoria, WorkSafe Victoria, the Victorian Skills Commission, the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority, and entities similar to Business Victoria and the Small Business Commission. It funds and partners with tertiary institutions including the RMIT University, the La Trobe University, and the Swinburne University of Technology, as well as industry bodies such as the Australian Industry Group, the National Farmers' Federation, and veteran employment programs linked to the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Policy initiatives and programs

Key initiatives include workforce recovery programs modeled after responses to the COVID-19 recession in Australia, regional economic stimulus comparable to the Bushfire Recovery Fund, and skills uplift projects aligned with recommendations from the Productivity Commission and the Australian Skills Quality Authority. The department runs apprenticeship and traineeship campaigns that partner with employers represented by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and unions like the Electrical Trades Union of Australia, implements regional job packages influenced by the Regional Australia Institute, and promotes innovation through collaborations with research centres such as the Australian National University and funding models similar to the Entrepreneurs' Programme.

Budget and staffing

The department's budget is allocated through the Victoria Budget process and scrutinised by parliamentary committees such as the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (Victoria), with appropriations affecting agencies including TAFE providers and regional development bodies. Staffing comprises public servants under frameworks like the Public Administration Act 2004 (Victoria), secondments from universities and industry representatives, and partnerships with federal programs run by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (Australia). Expenditure priorities reflect capital projects seen in infrastructure programs by Infrastructure Australia and recurrent funding for service delivery similar to allocations made to the Victorian Department of Health during recovery phases.

Criticisms and controversies

The department has faced scrutiny over outcomes such as the pace of regional investment relative to targets set by the Victorian Auditor-General's Office and disputes involving stakeholders like the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union and the Master Builders Victoria. Controversies have included debates about training quality overseen by the Australian Skills Quality Authority, procurement decisions compared with practices criticised in inquiries such as those led by the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, and tensions between state priorities and federal policies from the Australian Government. Political commentary has involved figures like Matthew Guy, Catherine King, and editorial coverage in outlets such as the Herald Sun and the The Age.

Category:Government agencies of Victoria (Australia)