Service and Creative Skills Australia

15/06/2026

Have Your Say on the Future of Beauty Qualifications!

Join SaCSA's upcoming Information Session on 29 June at 2:30 PM to learn more about the Update of Beauty Qualifications project.

This session will provide an overview of the project, including the purpose of the qualification updates, key industry drivers, proposed timelines, and opportunities for stakeholders to contribute throughout the consultation process.

Dedicated consultation workshops for Beauty Therapy, Nail Technology, Make-up, and Beauty Services will follow in July, giving industry professionals, employers, educators, and training providers the opportunity to help shape the future of beauty training in Australia.

Your feedback will play an important role in ensuring qualifications remain relevant, fit for purpose, and aligned with industry needs.

🔗 To view all available times and to register, visit: https://tinyurl.com/9mkjr8a7

27/05/2026

Customer aggression is having significant impacts on the wellbeing, safety and sustainability of Australia’s retail workforce.

Released last month, SaCSA’s Customer Aggression in Retail report highlighted the growing effects on workers, workforce retention and business operations across the retail sector.

Read the full report: https://tinyurl.com/ywwd4nnu

19/05/2026

Join us in Sydney on 27th June for an Industry Leaders Breakfast and the launch of our Drivers of Hairdressing Workforce Shortages Report.

The Australian hairdressing industry is facing ongoing workforce challenges, from skills shortages and attraction issues to retention and training pressures.

This important event will bring together industry leaders, employers, workers, government and unions to:
- Explore key findings from the report
- Discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the future workforce
- Participate in a collaborative workshop focused on practical solutions for a sustainable industry future

Your insights and contributions will help to support the future sustainability of Australia’s hairdressing workforce.

Be part of the conversation. Be part of the solution.

Further details on the panel and agenda will be released soon. This is a free event and breakfast is included.

Places are limited.

Link to register: https://tinyurl.com/6tzs957x

15/05/2026

SaCSA welcomes the appointment of the Hon. Vicki Ward MP for Eltham as Minister for Creative Industries, the Hon. Colin Brooks MP as Minister for Skills and TAFE, the Hon. Natalie Suleyman MP as Minister for Tourism, and the Hon. Steve Dimopoulos MP as Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs.

We look forward to working together to support a strong, responsive skills and training system that meets the needs of industry, learners and communities across Victoria.

We also thank the Hon. Colin Brooks MP, the Hon. Gayle Tierney MP, the Hon. Steve Dimopoulos MP and the Hon. Danny Pearson MP for Essendon for their leadership and contribution during their time in these portfolios.

Collaboration across government, industry and the training sector remains critical as we continue shaping Victoria’s workforce for the future.

Read more: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/draft-premier

14/05/2026

On Tuesday 12 May, the Treasurer of Australia, Jim Chalmers MP, handed down his fifth Federal Budget. The Budget focused on easing cost-of-living pressures, strengthening the economy, supporting workforce participation, and building a more sustainable fiscal position.

Read our summary of the key announcements impacting skills, training, tourism, arts and small business: https://tinyurl.com/2kk4aj8b

08/05/2026

People working in Digital Games and Screen are invited to share their career journey.

Service and Creative Skills Australia (SaCSA) is mapping real-world career pathways to better understand progression, skills development and workforce challenges in the sector.

We are mapping creative, technical and administrative roles to better understand:
* How careers begin and progress
* Common transition points and challenges
* Skills development needs and opportunities
* Barriers to attraction and retention

If you work in these art form areas, your experience can help inform future workforce planning, policy development and support improve training pathways.

Learn more and register your interest: https://tinyurl.com/3s8jhnwu

29/04/2026

Do you know the extent to which customer aggression in retail is escalating?

SaCSA’s Customer Aggression in Retail report confirms this is a widespread pattern across retail workplaces, with evidence showing it is extending beyond verbal interactions into more harmful behaviours.

Read the full report – https://tinyurl.com/43ek5y2m

27/04/2026

We would like to encourage all arts stakeholders to get involved in shaping Australia’s next National Cultural Policy.

Building on Revive: A place for every story, a story for every place, this policy will guide the future of a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable creative sector. It continues to be structured around five key pillars:

- First Nations First
- A Place for Every Story
- Centrality of the Artist
- Strong Cultural Infrastructure
- Engaging the Audience

Here’s how you can participate:

✍️ Make a submission
🗣️ Attend a Town Hall event

Consultation closes at 11:59pm AEST, Sunday 24 May 2026. Have your say and help shape the future of Australia’s cultural landscape.

The Australian Government is developing a new National Cultural Policy to shape the future direction of the creative and cultural sector.Building on the success of Revive: A place for every story, a story for every place, the new policy will address gaps, respond to emerging priorities, and provide....

27/04/2026

Congratulations to the South Australian Government on its recent re-election.

We also warmly acknowledge the Ministers on their Cabinet appointments, particularly those across our sectors and current areas of focus:

• Kyam Maher MLC – Minister for Aboriginal Affairs & Minister for Arts
• Emily Bourke MLC – Minister for Tourism
• Rhiannon Pearce MP – Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing
• Lucy Hood MP MP – Minister for Education, Training and Skills
• Michael Brown MP – Minister for Police and Correctional Services & Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs
• Nadia Clancy MP – Minister for Small and Family Business
• Sarah Andrews MP – Assistant Minister for Arts

We look forward to working collaboratively with all Ministers to address key challenges facing South Australia’s workforce and to support ongoing growth and opportunity across our sectors.

22/04/2026

Today, SaCSA brought together industry leaders, employers, government and unions for the Shaping Safe Service: National Roundtable on Customer Aggression.

Following the release of our Customer Aggression in Retail report this morning, the roundtable focused on how the sector can better prevent, manage and respond to customer aggression.

Facilitated by SaCSA CEO Natalie Turmine, the Customer Aggression in Retail: Moving the Dial Panel featured Gary Mortimer (QUT), Adele Sutton (COSBOA), Bernie Smith (SDA) and Glenn Fahey (Australian Retail Council), exploring practical, system-wide responses to one of retail’s most pressing workforce challenges.

Participants also took part in an interactive workshop facilitated by Monica Davidson (Creative Plus Business), sharing insights on the realities facing retail workers and identifying opportunities to strengthen training, skills and workplace practices.

Discussions highlighted the drivers shaping customer behaviour, the impacts on workers and businesses, and the need for capability-building across the workforce.

SaCSA is now progressing the next stage of this work, including reviewing retail qualifications and skill sets to strengthen capability across all levels of the workforce, from frontline staff through to supervisors, managers and business owners.

Read the full report: https://tinyurl.com/3mt5pbbk

Thank you to all speakers and participants who contributed their expertise. Addressing customer aggression requires a coordinated, industry-wide approach, and today’s conversation is an important step forward.