The Australian Industry and Skills Committee (the AISC) held its fourth meeting today in Adelaide.
Chair of the Committee, Mr John Pollaers, welcomed the Hon Gail Gago MLC, South Australian Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills. Minister Gago outlined the South Australian Government’s vision for skills development through responsive, quality vocational education and training closely attuned to the changing needs of industries. South Australia’s priorities include increasing real job outcomes from training, improving information sharing and reducing red tape while protecting students and employers.
The AISC reviewed progress on the new arrangements for Training Product development, including transition arrangements for Industry Skills Councils, the establishment of the Industry Reference Committees and the forward schedule of training packages due for submission in the remainder of 2015. Members considered the advice of the Senior Skills Officials Network about options to manage the implementation of the large volume of training packages due from Industry Skills Councils at the end of November.
The AISC considered ten training packages for implementation and agreed to approve the following:
- ICT Information & Communications Technology
- POL Police
- DEF Defence
- FNS Financial Services
- BSB Business Services
- FWP Forest and Wood
- TLI Transport and Logistics
- AMP Australian Meat Processing
The following two training packages have been deferred pending the consideration of further advice:
- CUA Creative Arts & Culture
- MSF Furnishing
The AISC has now approved seventeen training packages for implementation.
Committee members considered the package of reform options proposed in response to the findings of the Review of Training Packages and Accredited Courses. The final reform options will be considered by the COAG Industry and Skills Council in November 2015. The AISC provided advice on the package of reforms and noted its intention to work closely with the Industry Reference Committees over the next 12 months to determine if any additional actions need to be taken.
The Committee was provided with an overview of the issues contained in the Federation White Paper for the reform of the vocational education and training system and discussed the possible implications of the proposals.
The fundamental role of assessment in assuring quality in vocational education was discussed at the meeting with input from representatives from a number of key stakeholders, including the Australian Skills Quality Authority. Committee members provided feedback on the draft National VET Assessment Strategy and the approaches being considered to improving assessment quality.
The Committee was given an update of the work of the Apprenticeships Reform Advisory Group formed in September 2015 to look a range of options aimed at improving apprenticeships engagement, retention and completion rates in a rapidly evolving economy.
The AISC will meet next in Hobart on 1 December 2015.