Led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the summit brought together prominent leaders from across Australia including politicians, unions, employers, civil society and governments to discuss a range of shared economic and workforce challenges amid rising inflation and interest rates, falling wages, and $1 trillion of national debt.

More than 100 roundtables were held in the lead-up to the summit, including a specific aged care workforce meeting that undertook to push for better job security, pay and conditions for the workforce, making aged care a more attractive place to work, and improving training and skills.

Aiming to generate ideas and consensus to help shape the future of Australia’s labour market, topics on the agenda at the Jobs and Skills Summit included securing well-paid jobs and sustainable wages growth, addressing the national skills shortage, increasing the participation of women in the workforce, maximising jobs from the care economy, equal opportunities and pay for women, boosting productivity, modernising the collective bargaining system, and tackling climate change.

ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler, one of 140 people who attended the summit, featured on a panel discussion examining the role of skilled migration in resolving the current skills and labour shortages crisis. Later, the subject would form one of 36 immediate initiatives the federal government has pledged to implement, with Australia’s permanent migration cap set to increase from 160,000 to 195,000 in 2022-23 to help ease critical skills shortages.

“It was a privilege to have a seat at the table representing the largest national union in Australia,” Ms Butler said.

“After a decade of neglect across a range of sectors, the Jobs and Skills Summit brought together leaders from all walks of life to reach consensus and drive reform to create more opportunities for Australians, especially women and highly feminised industries, such as aged care.”

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