The National Foundation Skills Strategy for Adults was developed as a response to ABS findings that approximately 40 per cent of employed and 60 per cent of unemployed Australians had poor or very poor literacy and numeracy skills. These results highlighted the need for a national focus on improving the foundation skills of working-age Australians so that all adults have the skills they need to meet the demands of everyday life, work and participation in the community.

On 25 November 2011, the Standing Council for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment (SCOTESE) endorsed the Strategy. It will form the framework for future national foundation skills work in the context of the National Agreement on Skills and Workforce Development and the SCOTESE future work plan. The Strategy will be launched in the first half of 2012.