In an era of rapid technological change and shifting workplace demands, the role of the Future Skills Organisation Australia has never been more important. As a leading future skills organisation, it plays a central part in reshaping vocational education and training (VET) across the country. This initiative ensures that Australia’s workforce remains adaptable, industry-ready and equipped with skills aligned to the jobs of tomorrow. By working closely with training products such as the BSB training package, FNS training package and the ICT training package, Future Skills Australia is paving the way for a more dynamic, digitally literate workforce.
What is the Future Skills Organisation?
The Future Skills Organisation is the national Jobs and Skills Council for Australia’s finance, technology and business sectors. FSO’s mission is to harness the full potential of the VET (vocational education and training) system, partnering with industry to deliver outcomes that meet workforce needs. For providers and learners, this means that the future of a future skills organisation lies in proactively shaping training that is relevant, agile and aligned to the changing demands of the economy.
FSO’s appointment as the overarching council came in July 2023, when it was tasked to lead the design and delivery of training across its sectors. The vision is clear: build a workforce capable of thriving in a digital, globalised, and business-driven world.
Why the BSB Training Package, FNS Training Package and ICT Training Package Matter
BSB Training Package
The BSB training package is the national training product for business services and business roles across industries. Because the FSO covers business domains, updates to the BSB training package are central to ensuring those entering or advancing in business roles are equipped with tomorrow’s generalist and specialist skills. For example, recent initiatives include introducing units on digital capability and generalist artificial intelligence within the business services space.
FNS Training Package
Similarly, the FNS training package caters to financial services. With evolving regulatory landscapes, investment in sustainable finance, and growing digital infrastructures in finance, this training package is a key lever for upskilling and reskilling in the finance sector. FSO is actively reviewing and modernising components of FNS to ensure alignment with industry realities.
Put together, the BSB training package and FNS training package serve as foundational frameworks that the FSO uses to future-proof Australia’s workforce. They represent how a future skills organisation functions — by coordinating training packages, anticipating industry needs, and promoting capabilities that will matter in the years ahead.
ICT Training Package
The ICT Training Package is the national framework for vocational education and training (VET) qualifications in the information and communication technologies sector. It spans everything from entry-level certificate programs to advanced diplomas that cover emerging technologies such as cloud computing, machine learning and automation. For example, the package includes qualifications like Certificate III in Information Technology (ICT30120), Diploma of Information Technology (Business Analysis) (ICT50220) and Advanced Diploma of Information Technology (ICT60220).
Put together, the BSB training package, FNS training package and the ICT training package serve as foundational frameworks that the FSO uses to future-proof Australia’s workforce. While BSB strengthens business capability and FNS ensures financial services expertise keeps pace with regulatory and digital change, the ICT training package underpins the technological skills essential for a digitally enabled economy.
Together, these training packages represent how a future skills organisation functions — by coordinating national training products, anticipating industry needs across business, finance and technology, and promoting the capabilities that will matter in the years ahead.
How FSO Drives Change & What It Means for VET Providers
One of the largest tasks facing the FSO is addressing the skills gap: by 2030, Australia is expected to need 3.5 million skilled finance, tech and business professionals, an increase of 450,000 roles. Without the right strategy, a shortfall of almost 250,000 workers is projected. In response, the FSO is building workforce plans, developing training-package improvements, and working with training providers to ensure the VET sector is agile and relevant.
For VET providers, this means staying attentive to FSO-led projects. For instance, updates to the BSB training package include an “Uplift Digital Capability” project, introducing units covering digital literacy, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Meanwhile, the FNS training package updates include units on sustainable finance disclosures in response to ESG (environmental, social and governance) trends. The ICT training package is also undergoing updates to reflect rapid shifts in networking, cloud technologies, cybersecurity and digital systems, ensuring learners gain skills aligned with emerging technology roles.
In practical terms:
- Training providers should monitor FSO consultations and endorsement timelines.
- They can align their programs with upcoming BSB or FNS training package changes to ensure relevance.
- Learners and employers should view the FSO’s work as signalling the future skills organisation agenda—it points to what competencies will matter.
Another insight in the RTO industry is the Service and Creative Skills Australia, providing training packages within the Creative Arts, Personal Services, Retail, Tourism, and Hospitality industries.
What “Future Skills” Mean for Learners and Employers
When we refer to a future skills organisation in the Australian context, we’re talking about building a system that emphasises:
- Digital and technological literacy across roles (not just tech jobs).
- Generalist capabilities such as communication, business acumen, problem-solving, and adaptability.
- Specialist skills aligned to sectors like finance.
- Collaboration between industry, training providers and learners to ensure training is dynamic and responsive.
The FSO’s “Top 10 Insights for 2024” highlighted that employers increasingly value skills even over formal qualifications, and that digital inclusion and agile learning pathways are essential. For both learners and employers in Australia, aligning with the future-skills agenda means being prepared for jobs that may change, resist obsolescence, and create value in uncertain contexts.
Implications for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs)
RTOs must view the FSO’s work as signalling where the training environment is headed. Here are key take-aways:
- Watch for updates to the BSB, FNS, and ICT training packages — these will affect curriculum, assessment and delivery.
- Ensure you embed digital literacy, AI awareness and sustainability themes into business and finance training.
- Collaborate with industry to shape the relevance of training—this is at the heart of what a future skills organisation prioritises.
- Use workforce planning data from FSO (for example their Workforce Plan 2025) to justify new programs and resource investment.
In doing so, RTOs can position themselves ahead of change rather than lagging behind it. In addition, determine progress by checking the released RTO training resources from 2024 up to the current year.
Conclusion
As the Australian VET system evolves, the role of a future skills organisation like the Future Skills Organisation Australia becomes central to aligning training with the jobs of tomorrow. Through the BSB, FNS, and ICT training packages, the FSO is creating pathways that reflect the changing nature of work in business, finance and technology. For RTOs and learners alike, staying tuned to these developments means better relevance, employability and future-proofing. And for those looking to deliver those pathways effectively, platforms such as eSkilled LMS for RTOs provide strong support in creating, managing and delivering modern e-Learning solutions aligned with the future-skills agenda.
