The Post-School Success Expert Panel Report has been released.
The consultation draft reflects the extensive research and stakeholder engagement undertaken across the State by a panel of education experts, including principals and curriculum and assessment policy specialists, with support from a larger Advisory Committee representing key stakeholder groups.
The comprehensive review aims to ensure all secondary pathways, including Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) and vocational education and training (VET), are fit for purpose, meets the current needs of students and are accessible to encourage all students to challenge themselves.
Some of the key recommendations of the review include actions to:

• enable as many VET qualifications as possible to contribute to ATAR, in line with other Australian jurisdictions;
• explore expanding the information included in the Western Australian Statement of Student Achievement (WASSA) to reflect a holistic picture of achievement;
• to make WASSAs available to students who leave school prior to year 12;
• work with the school system and sectors to strengthen delivery of career education and pathway planning, particularly for students in regional, remote and lower socio-economic areas;

The draft report is now released for public consultation before a final draft will be submitted to the Minister for consideration. Submissions can be made by 16 August 2024

​The Submission portal and more information about the Post-School Success Review can be found here.

The 2024 – 25 Federal Budget has been announced – find key investments for your industries below. 

Tourism, Hospitality, Events, Travel

• Tourism Australia budget funding is maintained at similar levels to current funding.
• Austrade will receive $8m over four years to restart the Approved Destination Status (ADS) scheme to support Chinese group guided tours to Australia in guided groups
• An additional $265.1 million over four years in financial support for apprentices and their employers. Under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System apprentices and employers in priority occupations will receive an extra $2,000 and $1,000 respectively.
• $3.0 million over four years from 2024–25 to deliver on the Government’s commitment for mandatory country of origin labelling for seafood in hospitality settings in collaboration with the states and territories.
• A $25 ballot for working and holiday visas will also be introduced for people coming from China, Vietnam and India from next financial year.
• $1.7 billion over 10 years to support commercialisation of net-zero initiatives including Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), part of the ‘Future Made in Australia’ Innovation Fund
• $101.9 million over five years has been allocated to extend the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program and the Regional Airports Program for two further rounds.
• Revive Live program will provide $8.6m in 2024-25 to support Australian live music venues and festivals.

Arts & Recreation

• After record funding in last year’s Budget for Revive – Australia’s national cultural policy – the 2024-25 Budget includes:
• $115.2 million in operational funding to Australia’s eight national arts training organisations.
• $14.5 million to support the production of Australian children’s screen content.
• $9.3 million to expand and enhance the National Film and Sound Archive’s capacity to store highly flammable nitrate-based cultural heritage material belonging to our national collecting institutions.
• $8.6 million for the Revive Live program to provide essential support to live music venues and festivals showcasing Australian bands and artists.
• $5.2 million to expand and develop the Canberra and Darwin symphony orchestras.
• $97 million over two years to the Australian Sports Commission to extend Sporting Schools, the Local Sporting Champions, and Local Para Champions programs, and participation funding
• $250 million investment in the Australian Institute of Sport facilities in Canberra in preparation for the 2032Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Training

• $26.1 million over four years from 2024–25 for the Skills and Training portfolio to contribute to a strong and effective Vocational Education and Training system, and continue structural reforms. Extra $2,000 for apprentices in priority areas and $1,000 for employers to help offset training costs for employing apprentices.
• $4.4 million in 2024–25 to drive demand for Vocational Education and Training (VET). This will include delivering strategic communications to increase the appeal of VET for students, parents and teachers, and extending community awareness of Fee-Free TAFE courses in areas of high skills needs.

 
The Federal Budget documents may be accessed here

General analysis:
ABC analysis
Centre for Future Work paper
Michelle Grattan on the RBA’s response to the Budget

Travel and tourism:
Tourism and Transport Forum media statement
Travel Weekly reflection.

Print:
Print 21 industry response to the Budget

Arts and recreation:
ArtsHub overview of the Budget
Limelight magazine overview
NAVA responds to the Federal Budget  
Theatre Network Australia’s response
ScreenHub Australia reviews the Budget
A detailed breakdown of investment in the screen and broadcasting sector
Australian Sports Commission welcomes Federal Budget

Training and education:
The Conversation article on higher education
The Conversation article on the Future Made in Australia initiative

The Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM) will be hosted by Western Australia for the first time in 2026, and then in 2028 and 2030. The biannual event connects contemporary Australian theatre, dance, emerging and experimental art with national and international opportunities.
Performing Arts Connections (PAC Australia), the WA-based national peak body for performing arts centres, presenters and producers across Australia, has been appointed under a six-year contract (2025-2030).
APAM was established by the Australia Council for the Arts (now Creative Australia) in 1994 as a platform to increase international and national touring opportunities for Australian contemporary performing arts groups and artists.

Minister Templeman's full media statement may be found here
The Chamber of Arts and Culture WA's response may be found here

The 2024-25 State Budget has been announced– find key investments for your industries below. This article will be updated with links to budget analysis as they are published:
 
Tourism, Hospitality, Events

• $165 million Outdoor Adventure Tourism package to include: 
  • boating and maritime facilities across the State
  • trails and other recreational facilities
  • upgrades and new camp sites in regional WA and in Perth. 
  • initiatives to support sustainable tourism at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands
  • phase one of the Kalbarri foreshore and beaches revitalisation initiative
  • upgrades at the Gloucester and Bicentennial Trees in the Pemberton area, to allow climbing to reopen on the iconic trees.

The Connecting to Country grant program is continuing to support Western Australia's Aboriginal people and organisations to transfer knowledge between generations and preserve culture with 20 projects receiving up to $25,000 each this year. A total of $500,000 will be distributed for on-Country activities across the Kimberley, Mid West, Gascoyne, Goldfields-Esperance, Pilbara, Wheatbelt, Great Southern, South West and in metropolitan Perth, with projects to strengthen communities starting from May 2024.
Supported activities include painting, storytelling, language preservation, traditional craft and song and dance, taking place on-Country across regional Western Australia and metropolitan Perth.
The intention of the Connecting to Country program is to facilitate sharing of cultural knowledge and skills between generations, such as the preservation of language, stories and dance; to recognise Aboriginal cultural leadership within the Aboriginal community and support leadership development in young people; contribute to stronger community mental health and wellbeing; and strengthen, protect and maintain traditional ways of maintaining cultural knowledge.
Minister Templeman's full media statement may be accessed here

THRIVE 2030 is Australia's national strategy for the long-term sustainable growth of the visitor economy.  Austrade would like to hear from stakeholders in the tourism industry regarding the challenges facing your region or business (including workforce development). Click here to read the THRIVE 2030 Action Plan.

The West Australian Government has released a 10- year plan for the West Australian Screen sector. The strategy, launched by Minister Templeman and produced by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural industries contains the following Vision statement. 
"Western Australia has a world-renowned screen industry showcasing exceptional creative content and stories to the world. Government and industry align to create new highly skilled jobs, attract investment and activity to grow and diversify our economy, and enrich our cultures and our people." 

The strategy is organised around the pillars of Enabling a screen friendly WA, growing opportunities through Production incentives, developing required Infrastructure, both metropolitan and regional and building capacity and capability in the screen Workforce across a diverse range of platforms. Please access the strategy here.