The Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) met on 27 July 2017.
Strategic Policy Discussion
Strategic items discussed at this meeting included the implications for the training system of national regulatory reviews currently being undertaken and collaborating with Industry Reference Committees (IRCs) and Skills Service Organisations (SSOs) to progress the reform agenda.
AISC Chair, Professor John Pollaers, welcomed Mr Mark Paterson, Chief Commissioner and CEO of ASQA, who discussed the findings of ASQA's review of issues relating to unduly short courses. The AISC will further discuss its response to ASQA's recommendations at its next meeting.
Professor Pollaers also welcomed Professor Valerie Braithwaite, who discussedthe Review of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (NVETR) Act 2011, the legislative framework governing the regulation of Australia's VET sector. AISC members provided their suggestions on matters the review could consider, including the need to look at VET within the context of economic policy and the intersection with state regulation.
System improvement
In line with decisions made at the 1 June 2017, meeting the AISC agreed to commission twelve projects from IRCs Industry Skills Forecasts where a sufficient case for change had been made. The AISC thanked all IRCs for submitting their Industry Skills Forecasts and for the significant amount of work that went into developing these.
Training Package Development
The AISC endorsed four training packages and approved four cases for change. In considering these items, the AISC discussed the importance of meeting industry need and also the benefits of a simplified and more efficient national training system.
The AISC discussed the significance of its leadership of the national training system and its commitment to work more closely with IRCs to remove qualifications which industry has identified as being obsolete and minimise duplication.
Cases for Change
The AISC commissioned the following training package development work:
- PUA12 - Public Safety (Biosecurity) to include the development of one new unit of competency and eight skill sets to respond to requirements for biosecurity response operations.
- PUA12 - Public Safety (Transition) to transition to the 2012 standards including revision of fire, emergency and incident components responding to current industry requirements, public safety policy and doctrines, and national legislative requirements.
- RGR - Racing (Safety in Equine Training Project) – extension of project timeframes for racing industry training products.
- BSB - Business Services – accept case for change.
The AISC requested further information to support the following case for change:
- POL - Public Safety (Police).
The AISC did not approve the following case for change:
- FNS - Financial Services.
Cases for Endorsement
The AISC approved four cases for endorsement:
- CUA - Creative Arts and Culture - three new units relating to working with children in the performing arts sector.
- SIR - Retail Services - one new qualification in Retail Merchandise Management and one revised qualification in Visual Merchandising.
- DEF - Defence - Release 2.0, including remaining transition work.
- RGR – Racing – approved.
Projects commissioned (Industry Skills Forecasts)
The AISC agreed to commission twelve projects from IRCs Industry Skills Forecasts where a sufficient case for change had been made. These projects involve the following training packages:
- AVI Aviation - to meet regulatory and emerging technologies.
- ACM Animal Care and Management - to work safety around animals and align with changed industry practice and job roles in a project relevant also to the Racing IRC and the Agriculture and Production Horticulture IRC.
- AHC Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management - to update safety-critical areas within the training package.
- AHC Amenity, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management – to update safety-critical areas within the training package.
- FDF Food Processing - to ensure alignment with industry practice and skill needs across a range of functions and employment levels.
- PPM Pulp and Paper Manufacturing - to address the requirement of pulp and paper manufacturing sites to maintain Safe Work Australia Major Hazard Facilities licences to operate.
- FWP Forestry and Wood Processing - to improve skills in manufacturing solid engineered wood products improve skills in prefabrication of panelised building systems (walls, flooring, ceiling panels) and on-site installation.
Review of Industry Reference Committees (IRCs)
The AISC had considered out-of-session the proposed structure and membership of a number of IRCs. The following IRCs were endorsed:
- Business Services
- Aerospace
- Public Safety
- Education
- Culture and Related Industries
- Agriculture and Production Horticulture
- Amenity Horticulture, Landscaping, Conservation and Land Management
- Aquaculture and Wild Catch
- Pulp and Paper Manufacturing
- Racing
- Community Sector and Development
- Children's Education and Care
- Direct Client Care and Support
- Enrolled Nursing
- Sport and Recreation
Upcoming meetings
The next meeting of the Chairs of IRCs is 1 September 2017.
The next meeting of the AISC is 21 September 2017.