Australia appointed five grantees under the Maritime Skills and Training Initiative to train new seafarers. The implementation milestone creates funded sea-time and training pathways for more than 20 trainee and cadet seafarers each year over four years.
The Australian Government introduced legislation to create Managed Growth Funding and Needs-Based Funding for universities. The bill is part of the Universities Accord reform agenda and is intended to expand access, especially for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and regional or remote communities.
Victoria updated Student Resource Package guidance to reflect the release of the 2026 revised SRP. The update affects school funding information across equity funding, school infrastructure, and targeted initiatives.
Australia announced a terminology update for Additional Child Care Subsidy child wellbeing from 1 July 2026. The eligibility criteria do not change, but official language will shift toward wellbeing-focused terminology to reduce stigma and support conversations with families.
The Australian Government published the 2027 indexed rates for Commonwealth Supported Places and related higher education funding settings. This annual update affects provider funding calculations and student contribution settings for the 2027 year.
Skills Ministers agreed to advance work on a national data and information-sharing protocol for VET quality and integrity. The protocol is intended to improve collaboration and regulatory intelligence-sharing across the vocational education system.
Skills Ministers agreed the legislative and policy amendments required for Phase 1 of the VET Data Streamlining Program to commence in October 2026. The reform is designed to improve the timeliness, quality, and security of VET data submissions by registered training organisations.
Australia’s Skills and Workforce Ministerial Council endorsed the 2026 National TAFE Network Annual Workplan. The plan includes 17 projects across all jurisdictions, focused on recognition of skills, workforce transitions, learner readiness and completion, and access for cohorts facing structural barriers.
Victoria updated its Disability Inclusion Profile guidance to clarify registration timelines, the withdrawal process, appeals, and subsequent profile processes. The update affects how schools manage disability inclusion documentation and review pathways.
Victoria updated International Student Program guidance to require schools to report annually to school council on compliance with the ESOS Act. The update also notes that accredited schools will receive an ISP ESOS Compliance Report in Term 3.