Carmen Saunders
Assistant Secretary, Foundation and Transition Programs, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR)
As the Assistant Secretary of the Foundation and Transition Programs Branch in the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workforce Relations, Carmen oversees the design and delivery of Australian Government foundation skills policies and programs. This includes the Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program, the Foundation Skills for Your Future Program and Remote Communities Pilots; and the redesigned SEE program. Carmen also oversees the Australian Government’s policy response to the House of Representatives Inquiry into Adult Literacy and work on the Foundation Skills Framework. Carmen commenced in this role in May 2022, after several years working in various skills reform roles.
Carmen has over 17 years experience working in the Australian Government, including working on Indigenous economic policy and program delivery and intergovernmental relations. Highlights of Carmen’s career have included working closely with Indigenous led businesses on the design and implementation of the Indigenous Business Sector Strategy, as well as more recent work to support reforms to the Commonwealth’s Foundation Skills programs.