The Albanese Government is backing better jobs and skills outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with the announcement of the Indigenous Centre of Vocational Excellence (ICOVE).
Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles, and Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, have announced Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS) Limited and Tranby Aboriginal Cooperative Ltd will operate the ICOVE as the host Aboriginal Community Controlled Registered Training consortium.
The Albanese Government is investing up to $24 million over four years to support the establishment of the ICOVE from 1 July 2026.
The ICOVE is a commitment under the National Skills Agreement to advance Closing the Gap efforts and will be a national hub for best-practice Vocational Education and Training (VET), focused on supporting First Nations learners.
Providing high-quality training, it will focus on creating more pathways into jobs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The ICOVE will focus on shaping how training is designed and delivered in cities, regional areas and remote communities, so it better meets local skills and workforce needs.
An independent panel of First Nations experts and government representatives chose the hosts through a competitive, limited grant process.
The Coalition of Peaks and its member organisations designed the ICOVE to be structured around innovation, capacity building, policy and advocacy, and research and data.
The ICOVE will connect First Nations training and community-led organisations with industry and employers to strengthen skills and workforce solutions for First Nations people.
