Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the independent Skills for Victoria’s Growing Economy review.

Our submission focuses on the key foundational learning pathways that are crucial for the people we work with, including pre-accredited training and accredited foundation skills training, as well as the important role played by the Skills First Reconnect program, an initiative assisting the engagement into training, often for the first time, of many people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

For many people facing significant barriers to social and economic inclusion, entry into foundational training is the beginning of a pathway to meaningful employment.

Our submission also emphasises the importance of strengthening the Victorian Government’s employment services, such as the Jobs Victoria Employment Network (JVEN), as well as building partnerships with industry to create opportunities for people struggling to get into work in order for the full value of our investment in training for people from these backgrounds to be realised.