The skills and training needs of industry took centre stage recently in Melbourne when nearly 60 IRC chairs met to discuss lessons learnt and achievements that have been made since new training package arrangements began a year ago.
The meeting, held on 16 March, was addressed by Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, the Hon Karen Andrews MP, and hosted by Chair of Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC), Mr John Pollaers. Members of the AISC and representatives from the six Skills Service Organisations also attended.
In her address to the IRC Chairs, Minister Andrews outlined the issues that have been raised during her consultations with a wide variety of stakeholders in the sector, all of which had confirmed her view that industry engagement is the key to developing effective reforms in the VET space. The meeting was also an opportunity for the IRC Chairs to give the Minister feedback and policy advice on the training system.
Following the meeting, Minister Andrews published an update on her consultations and skills reform, on her website.
Mr Pollaers told the meeting good progress had been made on implementation of the new system, and the AISC was committed to:
- further amplifying the voice of industry
- building employers’ confidence in VET qualifications
- improving productivity of Australian businesses by making it easier for employers to upskill or reskill their staff, as well as better equipping the workforce to move between jobs.