The Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) met on 1 and 2 June 2017.
Strategic items discussed at this meeting included the implications for the training system from the 2017-18 Federal Budget, opportunities for system improvements and progressing priority reform work.
2017-18 Federal Budget
The Committee discussed implications arising from the 2017–18 Federal Budget and welcomed advice that funding for training package development and other AISC activities is to be maintained at current levels over the forward estimates. More specifically, the Committee welcomed the new $1.5 billion Skilling Australians Fund and called on Ministers to ensure this initiative has a clear focus on measureable outcomes.
System improvement
The AISC considered feedback from stakeholders about opportunities to improve systems and processes to help improve the speed to market of new training products and agreed to standardise the practice of incorporating Cases for Change for the coming year into the Skills Forecast and Proposed Schedule of Work. Implementation arrangements will be finalised in consultation with stakeholders, in particular state and territory training authorities, to ensure these new streamlined arrangements meet their needs.
Reform work
The AISC considered the range of issues facing people with disability in accessing, utilising and capitalising on the education and training provided by the VET sector. Noting the significant economic imperative of ensuring effective inclusion of people with disability, the AISC established a Sub-Committee to oversee a cross-sector project to develop and implement strategies to improve training outcomes for students with disability and their transition to employment.
Next meeting
The next meeting of the AISC is 27 July 2017.
Training package development
Cases for Change
The AISC commissioned the following training package development work:
- update the Creative Arts and Culture Training Package to incorporate two Professional Writing and Editing accredited courses, thereby addressing strong industry demand for writers, editors and communication workers in both traditional creative writing roles as well as emerging sectors such as social media and digital communication.
- update eight qualifications in the Property Services Training Package to address technological and licensing/regulation changes, to better align and future-proof the qualifications and to support a more agile workforce. These updates will occur in conjunction with the transition of these qualifications to the 2012 Standard for Training Packages
- update two existing Aviation security screener qualifications to align with upcoming Australian Government regulatory changes.
Case for Endorsement
The AISC agreed to approve the updated Certificate II in Cleaning to ensure that an entry-level qualification in cleaning operations is available.
Review of IRCs
The AISC recently endorsed the new structure and membership of the following IRCs
- Corrections
- Water
- Maritime
- Transport and Logistics
- Rail
- Dental
- Technicians Support Services
- Local Government
- Complementary Health
- Animal Care and Management.
The AISC also endorsed a structure and membership for the Construction IRC and the Property Services IRC. However, to ensure an appropriate balance of skills and geographic representation, the AISC agreed that each of these IRCs should include an additional position to be filled by a relevant employer from either Western Australia, South Australia or, in the case of Construction, the Northern Territory and in the case of Property Services, Tasmania.
The AISC Secretariat is advising nominees of these outcomes. Details of these IRCs will be published on the AISC website shortly.
The AISC also agreed a structure for the Public Safety IRC and that this structure should proceed to the public nominations phase of review.