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Leading skills innovation in the region

The Australia Pacific Training Coalition is an Australian Govern-
ment-funded initiative in partnership with the Pacific. As Australia’s
flagship technical and vocational education and training (TVET) invest-
ment in the Pacific region, APTC has trained over 16,000 Pacific women
and men since its commencement in 2007. Like other regional training
providers, the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly im-
pacted APTC’s operating context. However, APTC continues to respond
through its ongoing localisation approach, which has seen an increase
in local trainers, a significant modification to different country con-
texts and investments in strong relationships with country and regional
stakeholders to support adaptation.
Despite the resulting economic and employment downturn, APTC
remains focused on investing in training and skills development to en-
sure that the Pacific workforce has the skills needed for the modern
economy. In 2020, APTC graduated 1,298 Pacific people, of which, 40
per cent were women, and 3 per cent were people with disabilities. It
also provided a further 430 people with non-accredited qualifications,
mainly targeted at workplace skills. This included training for 138 par-
ticipants in two micro-credential courses in response to COVID-19 -
Communication Technologies for Business Success and Digital Literacy
Essentials. These new courses are in addition to the Australian accredit-
ed Certificate I, II, III and IV and Diploma qualifications that APTC offers
across nine Pacific Island countries; Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Papua New
Guinea, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Tuvalu, Tonga and Kiribati.
Part of being adaptive and responsive to emerging opportunities Promoting technical and work-ready training for the skills needs of the Pacific
has meant a focus on looking at re-skilling employees displaced from
sectors badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, the
Australian Government is also supporting the Fiji Partnerships for Re- refresher training to maximise their chances of securing labour mobility
covery through APTC. Under the partnership, three core activities help opportunities when they do arise.
support economic recovery. These include the delivery of COVID-safe New training closely aligned to supporting Australia’s initial re-
operational practices to the Fiji tourism industry with a focus on small sponse to COVID-19, such as the national COVID safe business guide-
to medium resorts and associated support workers; 10-day training for lines, was offered in Vanuatu. Specific courses in biosafety and bios-
Fiji’s unemployed agricultural workers to find employment in the meat ecurity were developed in Papua New Guinea. APTC shifted to different
processing sector under the Pacific Labour Scheme; and team leader delivery modes with a high emphasis on flexibility and remote learning
skillset targeting emerging women leaders from the private tourism delivery, such as the rollout of the Moodle Learning Management Sys-
sector in rural and remote areas of Fiji. tem – My Village, to support distance learning outcomes for our stu-
APTC is also advancing labour mobility opportunities in response dents, including those from small island states.
to the pandemic. This includes identifying qualified APTC graduates Across the region, APTC continues to work closely with chambers
interested in working in Australia and supporting their registration in of commerce, industry and government bodies to address changing la-
national work ready pools in consultation with national labour send- bour needs as industries begin their recovery. APTC will continue to
ing units and the Pacific Labour Facility (PLF). This collaboration with collaborate with others to advance the digital skills economy and see
PLF and national labour sending units also extends to supporting more increased Pacific innovation in agricultural technology, marine technol-
women graduates accessing labour mobility opportunities. Additionally, ogy and the creative industries. With these shifts, APTC supports Aus-
APTC provides upskilling in anticipation of emerging market demand tralia’s strong commitment through TVET and skills for employment for
when borders re-open, for instance, supporting interested alumni with the recovery and economic development of Pacific island countries.

Explore our courses

APTC is an Australian Government initiative in partnership with the Pacific www.aptc.edu.au
APTC is managed by TAFE Queensland (RTO 0275)

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