On August 30, 2024, at the MoHA headquarters, Vice Minister of Home Affairs Truong Hai Long had a courtesy meeting with Ms. Julie Hart, First Secretary of the Australian Embassy in Viet Nam, to discuss cooperation between Viet Nam and Australia in designing Phase 3 of the Aus4Skill Program (2026-2035), supported by the Australian Government.
Vice Minister Truong Hai Long (R) and Ms. Julie Hart at the meeting.
Also attending the meeting were Ms. Nguyen Xuan Dung, Deputy Director of the Department of Civil Servants and Public Employees; Ms. Tran Thi Thai, Deputy Chief of the Ministry’s Office; and other members of the Australian Embassy in Viet Nam.
During the meeting, Deputy Minister Truong Hai Long expressed his pleasure in welcoming Ms. Julie Hart and the delegation of the Australian Embassy who worked with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA). He emphasized that MoHA highly values the cooperative relationship between Australia and Viet Nam, and many programs have been implemented to strengthen diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Deputy Minister Truong Hai Long also provided a brief overview of the training of cadres and public servants in Viet Nam in general, and the functions and tasks of MoHA in particular, highlighting the training for cadres, civil servants, and public employees.
He mentioned that at this meeting, Ms. Julie Hart and the delegation provided additional information on Phase 3 of the Aus4Skill Program (2026-2035) supported by the Australian Government. Based on this, critical discussion, exchange, and agreement points will be determined to report to the competent authorities.
Vice Minister Truong Hai Long expressed hope that the cooperative relationship between the two countries, in general, and between Viet Nam’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in particular, will continue to develop, opening up more opportunities for Vietnamese public leaders, managers, and public servants to study, research, exchange delegations, and share experiences in Australia.
An overview of the meeting.
At the meeting, Ms. Julie Hart expressed her sincere gratitude to Vice Minister Truong Hai Long and the MoHA of Viet Nam for receiving her and the delegation. She also affirmed her ongoing interest in educational cooperation opportunities between Viet Nam and Australia.
Ms. Julie Hart informed the Vice Minister about Phase 3 of the Aus4Skill Program, which aims to deepen relations with Viet Nam and is a top priority of the Australian Government. The comprehensive strategic partnership between Australia and Viet Nam, established in 2024, reflects high expectations further to strengthen the cooperative relationship between the two countries. Through this development cooperation, the Australian Government plans to support the Vietnamese Government in areas of mutual interest, including the third phase of the Aus4Skills human resource development support program.
Accordingly, Aus4Skills Phase 3 is a 10-year program (2026-2035) supporting Viet Nam’s aspiration to become a high middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2045.
Through Aus4Skills, Australia seeks opportunities to work in partnership with Viet Nam to develop a skilled workforce that will enhance productivity in various sectors and improve competitiveness for inclusive economic growth.
The program will support the implementation of the comprehensive strategic cooperation between Australia and Viet Nam, with education being one of the five main pillars. This program also aims to execute the upcoming development partnership plan, which focuses on skill enhancement and human resource development.
Ms. Julie Hart also provided additional information on the main activities of Aus4Skills Phase 3:
Aus4Skills Phase 3 will be developed based on and will reinforce the outcomes of the long-term support activities in the fields of education and skill development in Viet Nam. Aus4Skills Phase 2 will conclude on December 31, 2025.
Therefore, Aus4Skills will continue to support the Australian Government Scholarship Program and short-term training opportunities. The program will connect alumni through alumni activities aimed at supporting and developing Viet Nam.
Aus4Skills will support the development of Viet Nam’s vocational education and training sector, enhancing employment opportunities and increasing labor productivity for graduates from vocational training institutions. There will be specific support activities aimed at enhancing the capacity of both male and female leaders to implement national development strategies and international cooperation.
Aus4Skills will maintain a strong commitment to promoting gender equality, equity for people with disabilities, and social inclusion based on effective approaches, particularly in leadership capacity with attention to gender equality formed in Phase 2. The program will also identify focused support for Viet Nam’s transition to a low-emission economy.
Aus4Skills Phase 3 is proposed to be implemented through partnerships with the Ministry of Education and Training, the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training under the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, reflecting the program’s multi-sectoral approach. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will consult with partners to understand their interests during the direction of Aus4Skills Phase 3 activities.
Regarding the design of the Aus4Skills Phase 3 program, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has hired a design consultancy team to develop the program. The team consists of both Australian and Vietnamese consultants. They will visit Viet Nam in August 2024 to conduct consultations with ministries, sectors, private organizations, and other donor agencies.
The Aus4Skills Phase 3 program is expected to commence in January 2025.
During the meeting, Ms. Julie Hart also raised several discussion points, such as: (i) What are the current priorities and challenges for human resource development in Viet Nam? (ii) What key skills are currently lacking in the workforce that need to be addressed? (iii) How should the Aus4Skills human resource development program support Viet Nam’s human resource development needs (including public sector leadership)?
Regarding these discussion points, Vice Minister Truong Hai Long and Ms. Julie Hart agreed to have the functional units of both sides develop and align the cooperation program and then report to the Ministers of the two Ministries for review and decision.
Vice Minister Truong Hai Long and Ms. Julie Hart at the meeting.
