44th Meeting of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee

VET Reform update

The Committee received an update on the progress of VET reforms for industry engagement, qualification design, and development of the National Skills Agreement.

Supporting a National Recovery Training Program

The Committee noted the final report on work to support a National Recovery Training Program, undertaken by Australian Industry Standards (AIS), which identified common competency requirements for job roles related to disaster recovery. Members noted the first tranche of resultant training products are being developed, with the project due for completion by August 2022.

ANZSCO 2021 Australia Update and consultations in 2022

The Committee noted that the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is preparing for consultation on the 2022 update, following the 23 November 2021 release of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) Update 2021.

Members also noted targeted stakeholder and public consultations will take place between February and June 2022, with the final updated classification to be published in November 2022.

Cessation of Sugar Milling training product development project

Members noted industry has supported the cessation of the Sugar Milling project before further training product development work is undertaken.

Training packages: Project/Policy Issues

Industry proposal – UEE Electrotechnology Training Package assessment conditions

The Committee approved an Industry Proposal submitted by the National Electrical and Communications Association to make minor changes to 11 units of competency in the UEE Training Package. Members noted these changes will address implementation issues in gathering authentic evidence of workplace practice, as well as clarifying licensing requirements.

Quality reforms update

The Committee received an update on progress of the Quality Reforms, a key priority under the Skills Reform agenda, including a summary of findings from recent consultations with the sector.

Members noted two of the key measures include updates to the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and development of a VET Workforce Quality Strategy, which are closely linked to the holistic review of the TAE Training and Education training package currently underway. The third key measure is the development of a framework to support continuous improvement of RTOs.

TAE Training and Education Training Package Review

The Committee welcomed Mr Andrew Shea, Chair, Education IRC, who provided an update on the review of the TAE Training Package. Members noted the holistic review of the TAE Training Package is significant because of its linkages to the Standards for RTOs 2015, VET Trainer and Assessor credentials, and the development of the VET Workforce Quality Strategy, which is an immediate priority under the Heads of Agreement for Skills Reform. Mr Shea anticipates the first public consultation regarding the draft training products will take place in early April 2022.

The Committee also noted the Education IRC is also finalising a small, fast-tracked project to develop two new e-learning units and one skill set for consideration by the AISC at its April 2022 meeting.

Cases for Endorsement

The Committee considered the following new Cases for Endorsement for referral to Skills Ministers:

Cases for Change

The Committee considered the following Cases for Change projects, which will be expected to meet transition timeframes in line with recent decisions by Skills Ministers regarding transition to new arrangements.

Next meeting: The next AISC meeting will be held on Tuesday 12 April 2022.

Download the Communique as a PDF here.