Productivity Prospectus launch inspires national conversation
MEGT’s inaugural Productivity Prospectus and national stakeholder roadshow featured six successful events across Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra. The prospectus has sparked nationwide conversations about the future of the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, with apprenticeships and traineeships the main focus.
Bringing leaders together
Each forum brought together leaders of business, government and industry to explore how Australia can build a stronger, more productive workforce through skills development.
Attendees heard from some of Australia’s most respected former football coaches, including Nathan Buckley, Ken Hinkley, John Worsfold, Leon Cameron and Stephen Larkham. Each of them shared lessons from elite sporting environments along with their insights on leadership, resilience and teamwork. Their experiences offered employers and VET leaders valuable perspectives on building high-performing teams and cultivating a strong workplace culture.
Insights from the 2025 Productivity Prospectus
The Productivity Prospectus highlights the challenges facing Australia’s apprenticeship and traineeship system and presents powerful evidence of its untapped economic potential.
The report shows that a $4–$5 billion investment in employer wage incentives and wraparound supports could generate up to $26.2 billion in additional economic activity over the next decade. This would represent a substantial return on investment for both government and industry.
“Australia’s apprenticeship system is the missing piece of the productivity conversation,” said MEGT CEO Matthew Hick. “With the right policy settings, we can achieve immediate, tangible results that strengthen our economy and workforce.”
A call for national collaboration
The Productivity Prospectus roadshow underscored the key message that stakeholders across the VET sector are ready to collaborate. Participants want to contribute to a national conversation that shapes government policy, supports employers, and increases apprenticeship and traineeship commencements and completions.
Together, these efforts can help drive sustained productivity growth and build a skilled, future-ready workforce for Australia.
Learn more
Explore the full findings and insights from the Productivity Prospectus 2025 report to see how investment in apprenticeships and traineeships can help unlock Australia’s productivity potential.