The recently established Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) is making its mark in the streamlining and de-cluttering of Australia’s VET training package system.
Committee Chair Mr John Pollaers said he was ‘heartened by the high level of ambition and energy members had demonstrated in applying rigorous quality criteria to the consideration of training packages’. The result is seven training packages approved for implementation over the last two meetings.
‘Additionally, development of a robust framework is well underway to support the AISC’s prioritisation and timely consideration of new training packages that will meet industry needs’, said Mr Pollaers.
In line with its commitment to increasing the efficiency of training package development, the Committee agreed to refer almost 100 qualifications from nine Enterprise Training Packages to the relevant Industry Reference Committees for advice about their removal from the national register.
The Committee also agreed to the development of industry proposals for two new sector-wide units in the areas of teamwork and communication.
The Committee welcomed the Hon John Barilaro MP, New South Wales Minister for Small Business, Regional Development and Skills to the meeting. Mr Barilaro outlined the New South Wales Government’s priorities for vocational education and training, including its recently launched Smart and Skilled initiative.
Comprised of industry leaders nominated by commonwealth and state and territory ministers, one of the AISC’s key objectives is to improve the responsiveness of the skills and training system, particularly in areas of economic and structural change.
A full communique from the meeting, together with details of the training packages approved for implementation and further information about the Committee, is available at www.education.gov.au/AISC.
The AISC will meet next in Adelaide on 12 October 2015.
John Pollaers | email: aiscsecretariat@education.gov.au