In November 2025, Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) released the discussion paper Building a System which puts People and Skills First which provided an update on the development of Australia’s National Skills Taxonomy.
DASSH welcomed the opportunity to be part of the planning and implementation process for the National Skills Taxonomy.
Key points raised by DASSH members included:
Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (HASS) disciplines deliver graduates with complex skills and knowledge. They are central to building Australia’s sovereign capabilities and producing “work-ready” graduates. HASS skills are critical for all industries and fundamental for leadership, adaptability, innovation, civic and regional stability.
Any skills taxonomy must acknowledge the importance of HASS capabilities including:
- Analytical and cognitive skills
- Cultural and interpersonal skills
- Communication and research skills
- Civic and democratic capabilities
- Ethical understanding and values-based judgement
Steps that can be taken to prevent creating new barriers or exclusions to education and training include:
- Comprehensively communicate and map skills gained in higher education
- Capture the full suite of skills for Australia’s sovereign capabilities
- Ensure education and training remains accessible
This includes reforming the Job-Ready Graduates Package (JRG) which sees students pay up to $50, 000 for Arts and Social Sciences degrees.