The Minns Labor Government is investing $11.6 million to expand the Educational Pathways Program (EPP), giving thousands more NSW public high school students a direct pathway into trades, vocational training and skilled careers.
The four-year investment will expand the program into three more regions and an additional 24 public schools.
The EPP currently operates in 183 high schools across 11 regions, with the expansion set to reach an extra 7,500 students each year and bring the total number of participating schools to 207 from 2027.
Seven new schools in the Central West and Orana, seven in the Camden region, eight schools in southern NSW and two additional schools in south-west Sydney will benefit from the expansion.
The EPP helps students access expert career guidance, hands-on learning in real industry settings, vocational education and training pathways, school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, work experience and employment opportunities.
The expansion comes as school-based vocational education continues to grow. Commencing VET enrolments in NSW public schools increased 36.5 per cent from 29,005 students in 2024 to 39,605 in 2025.
The investment forms part of the NSW Government’s $3.46 billion commitment to skills, training and TAFE NSW in the 2026–27 Budget, aimed at building the skilled workforce needed for housing, infrastructure, clean energy and other growing industries.
Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said the program gives students more options to move into apprenticeships, traineeships, TAFE and other vocational pathways.
The expansion will begin from 2027, increasing access to vocational and industry-connected career pathways for students across metropolitan and regional NSW.
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